u."

Molly put her arm round Nell and drew her down a side walk.

"Now, Nell," she said, "you must explain all this to me. Why has mother
gone to London? I am not so much surprised about father; father does go
sometimes, but mother. Why has she gone? Answer me, Nell; tell me what
you know."

"I don't know anything," said Nell. "Father was out all day yesterday,
and mother looked very sad. She didn't cry or anything of that sort, of
course; but she looked sad, and then father came home about tea-time
quite jolly and in high spirits, and he said something to mother and
they went into the study together; and then father shouted to Jane
Macalister to come to them, and Jane went; and presently we were told
that father and mother were to go to London this morning, and that
they'd be away perhaps a week, perhaps ten days. Jane told us that, and
then mother came into the room and she said the same thing, and she
looked kind of _pretence_-merry you know, and said that _perhaps_ she'd
bring us back things. It was then Kitty asked for the rabbit, and Boris
for the dove, and Guy wanted Star-Land and Harry some new carpenter's
tools, and mother promised everything with a perhaps tacked on; but I
don't think anyone noticed the perhaps except me, and all the time she
kept smiling with her lips, but her eyes were so sad."

"And you asked for a pony, Nell?"

Nell coloured crimson.

"No, I didn't," she replied; "but mother turned to me and put her arm
round me and said, 'If the others get their things you shall have the
wish of your heart, a shaggy pony.'"

"And what did you say to that, Nell?"

"I whispered back to her that I didn't want her to spend her money; and
then she kissed me very hard."

"And did father promise things?"

"He said that the house should be refurnished, and that we should go to
the sea, and he would buy new horses and a lovely carriage for mother.
Father was lively; I never saw him so gay."

"And they went off this morning?"

"Yes, very early; I wasn't even dressed, but I jumped out of bed and ran
to the window and saw them driving away."

"And that's all you know, Nell?" exclaimed Molly.

"Yes, that's all I know."

"Now, tell me what you think."

"What I think?" replied Nell. "I--" she hesitated. "No, I'd rather not."

"You must, Nell, you must. Remember I'm your own cosy old Moll; remember
I understand you, and I'm the eldest girl and mother's right hand.
There's something that you think ve