Terry | Page 5

said Lally.
"You have had a long, cold journey to-day. Have you had a good supper, Lally?"
"Sorra bit could I ate, madam, till I had a word with yourself. But anyhow I'll go and ate it now."
CHAPTER III
A WET DAY
Terry and Turly were snugly lodged on the same flat with Granny's bedroom and sitting-room. Nurse Nancy's room stood between the two pretty little chambers given to the children, and the big day nursery was close by. Everything was very nicely arranged for the comfort of the little visitors and for the maintaining of a proper control over them by Madam and Nurse Nancy; Here they were to be safe night and day under the eyes of their elders, except when allowed to go out with proper escort. The gate at the back stairs, which gave on the landing and had been placed there years ago for the protection of little children long since able to take care of themselves, was as strong as ever and shut with as clever a snap, so that there was no danger by that way. There were also guards on all the fires, and an ornamental bar across each window to prevent little rash creatures from throwing themselves out.
"What mischief can she do?" Granny had asked Nancy after surveying all these safeguards before the coming of the children; and Nancy's hearty answer, "'t will puzzle her, madam," had been soothing to the anxious old mother.
When Terry wakened on the morning after her arrival she got up and put her face to the window-pane.
"Wet!" she said. "Mountains all wrapped up in white sheets with just their heads out. Rain pouring. And I did so want to be out everywhere till bed-time again!"
She had taken her bath and dressed before Nancy had done with Turly and came to look for her.
"Now, Miss Terry, it's too much in your own hands you are entirely, Miss," said Nancy. "You had a right to stay quiet till I came to give you leave to get up."
"But, Nancy dear, what would be the use in my lying there to be a trouble to you when I have got a pair of hands of my own? But oh, Nursey, will you put in a few buttons up my back for me? Now didn't I save up something to be a bother to you?"
"If that's all the bother you give me it won't be heavy on me," said Nancy, giving her a few finishing touches before she brought her into tho nursery to breakfast.
After breakfast the children were told that Granny was not very well, a result of the excitement of yesterday and the wet weather which affected her. She could not have Terry and Turly with her until afternoon tea time, except just for a minute to bid her good-morning.
Terry was greatly distressed at this news until she had seen Granny looking, to her eyes, just the same as ever, after which she was quite contented. Only, how was the day to be spent?
There was a little excitement about the unpacking of her things and setting out the little presents she had got for Granny. Nurse Nancy too had to be surprised and delighted at the gift of a nice, large, white lawn kerchief, hemmed by Terencia, such as Nancy was accustomed to wear folded round her neck and across her breast, and which was so becoming to her dear old black eyes and brown face. And after that gratifying presentation how could Nurse Nancy be exceedingly strict and distrustful on that particularly wet and dark December morning? On the contrary, she was in her most amiable and indulgent humour.
"I've got such a fine lot of toys for good children," she said, and began opening the cupboards and drawers. "Here's dolls and soldiers, and bricks and all sorts of what-not. And you'll amuse yourselves with them like good childher, for I'm goin' to be an hour or so in there, attendin' on your gran'ma. Or will I send up Bridget to be lookin' afther ye?"
"Oh no, please!" said Terry, "we can look after ourselves till you come back. Now, can't we, Turly?"
Turly, who was riding from Kimberley to Pretoria on the newly-painted rocking-horse, waved an assent, and Nurse Nancy left the nursery without misgiving.
She was not long gone before Terry began to get impatient with the new dolls. She had inspected them inside and outside, found what they were made of, satisfied herself as to whether or not their clothes came off and on, tossed up their curls and smoothed them down again, shaken them up and told them to stand up straight, which they promptly refused to do. At last it seemed that there was nothing more to be done with them.
"Oh, you are stupid!" she exclaimed; "staring with your glassy eyes,