re all being as
good as we could be to mums.

I think we were, and to Anne too, for we were nearly as sorry for her. I
had never known her mind about anything so much, or for so long. Serry
began to be rather tired of it.

'It's so awfully dull to see Anne going about with such a long face,'
she said the second evening, when we were all sitting with mother. 'Mums
herself doesn't look half so gloomy. Mums, do tell Anne not to be so
cross; it can't be as bad for her as for you.'

'You're very unkind, Serry,' said Maud, bristling up for Anne; 'and,
after all, I think you might feel a little sorry too. You joined Anne in
looking over all mother's things that night, you know you did, and you
only laughed when I said you'd left them in a mess.'

Serry only laughed now. She tossed back her fluffy hair--it's a way of
hers, and I must say she looks very pretty when she does it.

'It's not my nature to fuss about things,' she said. 'It wouldn't suit
my name if I did; would it, mums? And you are such a little preacher,
Maud.'

It _was_ funny to hear Maud. It's funny still, for she looks such a
mite, but two years ago it was even funnier. For she was only six and a
half then, though she spoke just as well as she does now. I can't
remember ever hearing Maud talk babyishly.

'Don't begin quarrelling about it, my dear children,' said mother. 'That
certainly won't do any good. And, Anne, you must just try to put it off
your mind a little, as I am doing.'

'I _can't_,' said Anne. 'I've never been so long sorry about anything in
my life. I didn't know any one _could_ be. I dream about it all night,
too--the most provoking dreams of finding it in all sorts of places.
Last night I dreamt I found it in my teacup, when I had finished
drinking my tea, and it seemed so dreadfully _real_, you don't know. I
could scarcely help thinking it would be in my cup this morning at
breakfast.'

'Oh,' said Serena, 'that was why you were staring at the dregs so, and
sighing so dolefully.'

But Anne didn't pay any attention to her.

'Mother,' she said, 'you don't think it could _mean_ anything--my dream,
I mean? Could it be that we are to look all through the teacups in the
pantry, for you know there were a great lot in the drawing-room that
day, and it _might_ have dropped into one that wasn't used, and got put
away without being washed.'

Mums smiled a little.

'I'm afraid that's wildly improbable,' she said; 'but if you like to go
downs