Part 7 (1/2)

”E--ee--eh!” cried Trot.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ”THERE WAS A VERY LOUD SCREAM THIS TIME.”]

”It came right on my nose,” said Toddles. ”I believe it's broken.”

”I'm sure my toe is,” said Trot.

There was no doubt at all about the pot, it was very much broken.

”Hus.h.!.+” said Trot, ”there's nurse!”

Toddles stopped in the middle of a scream, and the two children crept on their hands and knees to the door, and listened eagerly--but it was a false alarm.

”Let us try walking the rope,” said Trot.

”I suppose you will do that,” said Toddles, rubbing his nose; ”though we haven't any rope.”

”Then we must find something else,” said Trot cheerfully, determined not to be beaten. ”I think a walking-stick would do beautifully to practise on, and we'll get nurse to give us a rope to-morrow.”

”It looked very easy the other day,” said Toddles, as Trot began to arrange one end of the stick on a chair, and the other on a stool; ”but I don't expect it is.”

”We'll be more careful this time,” said Trot. ”You hold the walking-stick so that it sha'n't slip, and I'll hold this long stick so that I sha'n't slip.”

”All right,” said Toddles, in a tone of voice which meant that he thought it was all wrong.

There was a loud scream this time--a scream that brought nurse up-stairs very quickly, so that she might see what was the matter.

Both the children were on the floor, and sticks, chair, and stool were flying in every direction.

For a minute nurse was doubtful which was Trot, which was Toddles, and which were sticks and chair.

”What are you doing?” said nurse.

But neither of the children answered. Toddles's head felt as if it had suddenly become twice its usual size, and Trot did not feel quite sure where she was, or whether she was standing on her head or her heels.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ”TODDLES AND TROT WERE SITTING SIDE BY SIDE.”]

Nurse picked them up, and kissed them and comforted them, but quite forgot to scold the two miserable little pickles.

They didn't say anything about the circus, and somehow or other Toddles thought he would like to go to bed early; and of course there was no use in Trot staying up by herself, so she went to bed early too.

Next morning the children slept late, and did not seem very eager to get up when they did wake.

”Trot,” said Toddles, sighing deeply, ”it is the party day. What shall we do about the circus?”

Trot only answered with something between a groan and a growl.

”Children,” said mother, coming into the nursery after breakfast, ”shall we write to the boys and girls, and tell them to come another day?”