than the
others."

"All right," said Nancy with her head critically on one side.

"I want you to promise three things," went on David--"to keep his gate
shut, and to give him acorns, and not to let Dickie poke a stick at
him."

"Oh, yes, I'll promise," said Nancy readily.

"Truly and faithfully?" continued David, edging still closer up to her;
"you won't forget?"

"No, I really won't," said Nancy with an impatient jerk of her elbow;
"don't you worry me any more about it."

"I took care of your dormouse when _you_ went," continued David, "and
didn't forget it once. So you ought to take care of my pig, it's only
fair."

"Well, don't I tell you I'm going to?" said Nancy, laying down her
paint-brush with an air of desperation. "I sha'n't do it a bit more for
your asking so often. Do leave off."

"You'll only be away three days, Davie," said Pennie, looking up from
her book; "we can manage to take care of Antony that little while I
should think."

"Well," said David, "Nancy's got to be 'sponsible, because I took care
of her mouse."

"If I were you," said Ambrose with a superior air, "I wouldn't use such
long words; you never say them right."

"I say," interrupted Pennie, putting down her book, "what do you all
like best when you go to Nearminster? I know what _I_ like best."

"Well, what is it?" said Ambrose; "you say first, and then Nancy, and
then me, and then David."

"Well," said Pennie, clasping her knees with much enjoyment, "what I
like best is going to church in the Cathedral in the afternoon. When
it's a little bit dusky, you know, but not lighted up, and all the
pillars look misty, and a long way off, and there are very few people.
And then the boys sing, and you feel quite good and just a little bit
sad; I can't think why it is that I never feel like that in our church;
I suppose it's a cathedral feeling. That's what I like best. Now you,
Nancy."

"Why," said Nancy without the least hesitation. "I like that little
Chinese mandarin that stands on the mantel-piece in Miss Unity's
sitting-room, and wags its head."

"And _I_ like the drive back here best," said Ambrose, "because, when
we're going there's only Miss Unity to see at the end; but when we get
here there are all the animals and things."

"I don't call that liking Nearminster. I call it liking home," said
Nancy. "Now, it's your turn, David."

"I don't know what I like best," said David solemnly. "I only know what
I like le