it." And she went on to tell them so much about
auntie's pretty home that for a little they almost forgot everything but
the pleasant part of the change that was to come so soon.

And it did come very soon. It seemed but a few days from the afternoon
they had first heard about it all, when Floss and Carrots found
themselves early one morning at the little railway station with their
father, waiting for the train.

Captain Desart was to travel with them for the first hour, to take them
to the "junction" where they were to change and get into a train which
would take them straight to Whitefriars, near which was auntie's house.

You will laugh, children, I dare say, and think Floss and Carrots very
countrified and ignorant when I tell you that they had never been a long
railway journey before. Never, that is to say, that they could
_remember_--for their parents had come to Sandyshore when Floss was a
baby, and Carrots, as you know, had been born there.

So you can hardly fancy what a wonderful event this journey was to them.

Their little hearts were very full at first after parting with their
mother, and sisters, and nurse, and all that made the Cove House home to
them.

And their mamma had kissed them so _many_ times, as if she could not
really say good-bye, though she was not generally a very petting or
kissing mamma, but rather quiet and grave.

And nurse had the tears in her eyes, and Louise had them pouring down
her face, and Cecil had _her_ face squeezed up in a sort of way that
Floss knew meant she was determined she would not cry. Floss felt
troubled in a way she could not understand, and I think Carrots did too.
They had a feeling that the bigger people knew of more reason for sorrow
than had been told to them, and yet they could not imagine what it could
be. And after all, to _them_ the parting for even four or five months
was almost as great a trouble as they could understand! only they were
going to "auntie's!"

"And we will try to be so good, dear mamma," said Floss, bravely choking
down her tears. "We will try to get on with our lessons, too, and write
you nice letters. And--and--" here a sob or two _would_ make its way, "I
can't help crying a little; but I'm sure we shall be very happy, won't
we Carrots?"

"If mamma wants us to be happy, we'll _try_, won't we Floss?" said
Carrots. He wiped the tears on his mother's cheeks with his own little
pocket handkerchief and looked up in her face piteously.