Part 14 (2/2)

”Mamma, I hope the cold weather isn't going to make you ill again?”

Floss said, one day when she and Carrots came in from a race on the sands, all hot and rosy with running.

”I don't know, dear,” said her mother with a little sigh.

”I wish you could run about like us. That would make you _so_ hot,” said Carrots.

Mrs. Desart smiled. Just then her glance happened to fall on Floss's boots. ”My dear child,” she said, ”those boots are really not fit to go out with. There's a great hole at the side of one of them.”

”I know, mamma,” said Floss, ”but they're going to be mended. Nurse thinks they'll do a good while longer, if they're mended. I hope they will, for I know you always have so many new things to get when winter begins to come--haven't you, mamma?”

Mrs. Desart sighed again.

”I should have liked all your things to be so nice,” she said, more as if speaking to herself than to Floss, ”but it can't be helped.”

Something in her tone caught Floss's attention.

”Why, mamma?” she asked, ”why did you want our things to be so nice?”

”Because, dears, you may be going away from home,” replied Mrs. Desart.

Floss and Carrots stared with astonishment. ”Going away from home,”

Floss repeated, utterly unable to say more. Carrots could say nothing at all, he could _only_ stare.

”Yes,” continued Mrs. Desart, ”I had meant to tell you about it before, but I have kept putting it off--” she stopped and seemed to hesitate.

”Why, mamma?” said Floss again. ”Don't you like us to go? Are you coming with us, mamma?”

”Are we going to auntie's?” said Carrots.

His asking this seemed to please his mother.

”You would like to go to auntie's, wouldn't you, Carrots?” she said.

Carrots stroked his mother's shawl up and down two or three times before he answered.

”I'd like to go if you would come too,” he said at last, ”but I think I would rather stay at home, thank you, if you can't come.”

Mrs. Desart's eyes filled with tears. ”Poor little Carrots!” she said, softly smoothing his curls with her hand. ”But if it would please me for Floss and you to go without me?” she said.

”I'll go if you want me to go, mamma,” said Carrots.

”I must explain a little,” said Mrs. Desart, and then she went on to tell the children how it was. The doctor had said she must not risk another winter at Sandysh.o.r.e, and it had been arranged for her to go to a warmer climate. Cecil and Louise were to go with her; Captain Desart would be with them as much as he possibly could, and Maurice was to live at school. And what concerned the two little ones almost more than anything, _nurse_ was to go too! ”I must have some one kind and sensible with me, in case, in case--” and again Mrs. Desart hesitated.

”In case you were very tired with travelling, or if you were to get a bad cold again; somebody who could make nice white wine whey and things like that,” said Floss, who was of a practical turn of mind, ”oh yes, mamma, I quite understand.”

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