Part 12 (1/2)

”I don't mind--a white cottage, but quite a tiny one,” he replied.

”Hum!” said Thor, ”that's very good-natured, I must say. There'll be no room for visitors, do you hear, Terry?”

”Oh yes; p'raps there will sometimes,” said Peggy.

”You'll let your poor old Terry come, won't you, Peg-top?” said Terence, coaxingly.

”Dear Terry,” said Peggy.

”Haven't you been very dull all day alone, by the bye?” Terence went on.

”Not very,” Peggy replied. ”f.a.n.n.y took me a nice walk, and this morning----” But she stopped short before telling more. She was afraid that Thorold would laugh at her if she said how much she liked the children at the back, and then she had another reason. She wanted to ”surprise” her brothers with a present of pipes for soap-bubbles, and very likely if she began talking about the back street at all it would make them think of Mrs. Whelan's, and then they might think of the pipes for themselves, which Peggy did not wish at all. She felt quite big and managing since she had paid a visit to the Smileys, and had a plan for going to buy the pipes ”all by my own self.”

”To-morrow,” said Thorold, ”there's to be a party at our school. We're all three to go.”

Peggy's face fell.

”It's Sat.u.r.day,” she said. ”I thought you'd have stayed with me.”

Terence and Baldwin looked sorry.

”_I'll_ stay at home,” said Terry.

”No,” said Thor, ”I really don't think you can. They're counting on you for some of the games. Peg won't mind much for once, will you? I'm sorry too.”

But before Peggy had time to reply, Baldwin broke in.

”I'll stay at home with Peg-top,” he said, in his slow, distinct way.

”It won't matter for me not going. I'm one of the little ones.”

”And we'll go a nice walk, won't we, Baldwin?” said Peggy, quite happy again. ”And I daresay we may have something nice for tea. I'll ask papa,” she added to herself. ”I'm sure he'll give me some pennies when he hears how good Baldwin is.”

Miss Earnshaw came the next morning, and in the interest of being measured for her new spring frock, and watching it being cut out, and considering what she herself could make with the sc.r.a.ps which the young dressmaker gave her, the time pa.s.sed very pleasantly for Peggy.

Miss Earnshaw admired the red shoes very much, and was interested to hear the story of the unknown lady who had given them to Peggy, and told a story of a similar adventure of her own when she was a little girl.

And after dinner she, for f.a.n.n.y was very busy, took Peggy and Baldwin out for a walk, and on their way home they went to the confectioner's and bought six halfpenny buns with the three pennies papa had given Peggy that morning. At least the children thought there were only six, but greatly to their surprise, when they undid the parcel on the nursery table, out rolled seven!

”Oh dear!” said Peggy, ”she's gave us one too many. Must we go back to the shop with it, do you think, Miss Earnshaw? It's such a long way.”

”I'll go,” said Baldwin, beginning to fasten his boots again.

But Miss Earnshaw a.s.sured them it was all right.

”You always get thirteen of any penny buns or cakes for a s.h.i.+lling,” she said; ”and some shops will give you seven halfpenny ones for threepence.

That's how it is. Did you never hear speak of a baker's dozen?”

Still Peggy did not feel satisfied.

”It isn't comfable,” she said, giving herself a little wriggle--a trick of hers when she was put out. ”Six would have been much nicer--just two for each,” for Miss Earnshaw was to have tea with her and Baldwin.