e window together, and told the rain to
be sure to go to Spain that night, and never come back again while they
were at Ravensnest.

"Or you might go to Willingham, you know, dear Mr. Rain," said Milly; "I
daresay mother's flowers want a good watering. And there's Spot--you
might give her a good washing--she _can_ wash herself, but she won't.
Only we don't want you here, Mr. Rain."

But what an obstinate disagreeable Mr. Rain it was! All that night it
went on pouring, till the little beck in the garden was so full it was
almost choked, and could only get along by sputtering and foaming as if
some wicked water-fairies were driving it along and tormenting it. And
all the little pools on the mountain, the "tarns," as Becky and Tiza
called them, filled up, and the rain made the mountain itself so wet
that it was like one big bog all over.

When the children woke up the flood on the lawn was growing bigger, and
it seemed to them as if the house and garden were all wrapped up in a
wet white cloud-blanket. They could not see the mountain at all from the
window, it was all covered with a thick white mist, and the dark fir
trees in the garden looked sad and drooping, as if the weight of
raindrops was too much for them to carry.

The children had made up their minds so completely the night before that
it _couldn't_ rain more than two days running, that they felt as if they
could hardly be expected to bear this third wet morning cheerfully.
Nurse found them cross and out of spirits at breakfast. Even a prospect
of asking Becky and Tiza to tea did not bring any smiles to their
forlorn little faces. It would be no fun having anybody to tea. They
couldn't go out, and there was nothing amusing indoors.

After breakfast, Olly set to work to get into mischief, as he generally
did when he felt dull. Nurse discovered him smearing Katie's cheeks with
raspberry jam "to make them get red kricker" as he said, and alas! some
of the jam had stuck to the new silk frock, and spoilt all its smart
fresh look.

When Milly found it out she began to cry, and when Mrs. Norton came in
she saw a heap on the floor, which was Milly, sobbing, while Olly sat
beside her with his mouth wide open, as if he was a good deal astonished
at the result of his first attempt at doctoring.

"Pick up the pieces, old woman," said Mrs. Norton, taking hold of the
heap and lifting it up. "What's the matter with you both?"

"Olly's spoilt my doll," sobbed Milly, "and