breezes and we'll bathe. My word!
I don't know whether I'm standing on my head or my heels."

"Do show me the tickets, Ben," said Netty.

Ben thrust his hand into his trousers pocket and presently brought out
two little pieces of cardboard on which the magical words were written
which would take him and his sister to the school feast.

"There," he said; "it's all right--as right as can be."

"But that isn't your name, Ben; it's Tom Minchin, Tom Minchin and a
number."

"Well, and I'll be Tom Minchin for to-morrow," said Ben; "and you'll be
his sister Susy Minchin. We'll drop our own names for the day."

"But what about the real Tom and Susy Minchin? Won't they come and find
out everything, and won't they be disappointed?" said Netty, who had a
strong sense of justice in her little nature.

"Let them be: it's our turn for a bit of fun. Perhaps they won't come,
as they weren't there to-day. Anyhow, we'll risk it. I'm going, but you
needn't be Susy Minchin unless you like."

"Oh, I'll be Susy," answered Netty, after a moment's anxious reflection;
"but we must take baby. What's to be done with baby? Mother said I was
to take charge of him all to-morrow, as she's going out charing. I can't
leave baby--that I can't, Ben."

"If you take the baby we'll be found out," said Ben.

"Well, I must risk it," said Netty; "I can't help it. You can go as Tom
Minchin, Ben, and if they turn me back on account of the baby--why, they
must, that's all."

"They won't let baby come, so you had best leave him at home. There's
old Mrs. Court can look after him," said Ben, indicating an old woman
who sometimes took care of babies for twopence a day.

"I never thought of Mrs. Court," said Netty, in a reflective voice; "but
where's the use? I haven't the twopence."

"I believe I could manage that," said Ben; "it's worth a good try, isn't
it?"

[Illustration]

"Well, let us run and ask her," said Netty; "it would be a great pity if
I didn't get off with the rest of you. Do let me look at the tickets
once more, Ben."

Ben condescended to give Netty one more peep.

"Don't you forget when they're calling out our names that you are Susy
Minchin," he said; "and now if I can get twopence Mrs. Court will look
after baby."

Netty kissed the baby on its little mouth.

"I'd take you if I could, baby," she said; "but oh, the sea! the sea! I
just do pine for it. I'll bring you back lots of shells, baby, that I
will, and you won't mind old