Part 2 (1/2)

'Yes, yes, that was it, and 10 was the number of the house. I don't forget the number 'cause I asked mother, and she said it was 10. O Peter, that's where our lady lives, and I do think it would be better to give her d.i.c.kory. There, Peter, bless her! she's sneezing again. I'm sure we had better take her to the lady.'

'All right,' answered Peter, 'I'll be a termagant again when she's gone; see if I won't. I'll get up an awful racking cough at night, and I'll worry that nasty Mr Martin much more than d.i.c.kory has worried him, see if I don't; and I'll sing on the stairs, and I'll whistle awful loud, and I'll buy a Jew's-harp with one of my pennies. I'll turn into a horrid boy! but I suppose you are right about d.i.c.kory, Flossy. Here, let's go back as fast as we can to that house you were so 'cute as to take the number of. I'm mis'rible, and I mean to be mis'rible, so don't you expect nothing cheerful from me, Flossy.'

'Very well, Peter,' said Flossy meekly.

And then the little party, slowly and painfully, for Flossy was very, very tired, and poor Peter's arms ached fearfully, retraced their steps.

The baby had ceased crying and was asleep, and after about two hours'

patient walking and asking their way, the children found themselves in Bevington Square.

'I'd better go up first to the door,' said Flossy, 'and ask her if she'd like a baby. You might stand round there, Peter, and you might keep Snip- snap with you.'

'You needn't press her about it,' said Peter; 'if she don't seem quite delighted we won't give up d.i.c.kory on no account; and kiss her before you go, Flossy, for of course the lady will take her; and in a few minutes she won't be our d.i.c.kory no more.'

Peter unfastened a corner of the old tartan shawl, and Flossy imprinted a grave kiss on the baby's forehead. Then, with great solemnity, and with the air of one engaged on an important mission, she went up the steps of the great house and rang the bell. Flossy was an attractive little child, her hair was really beautiful, and she had a very wistful and taking manner.

'Please,' she said now to the tall, powdered footman, 'I know the lady what cried is here; please can I see her? I've brought her a little baby, and I want to see her about it.'

Flossy did not look quite like a common child, and her face wore a very sweet expression when she spoke of the baby; nevertheless the footman only stared at her, and would have certainly shut the door in her face, had not the lady of the house at that moment come into the hall. Flossy saw her, and quick as thought she darted past the servant and up to the lady.

'Please, lady,' she said, 'I've often thought of you, and I'm so very sorry for you. Please, I've brought you another little baby instead of the one you put into the ground in the pretty place where the flowers and trees are. She's a dear little baby, and when you have her you won't cry no more.'

Flossy's voice was very earnest, and her eyes looking up full into the lady's face were full of the most intense sympathy. Those pretty eyes of hers were too much for the poor bereaved mother: she put her handkerchief to her own eyes, and there and then burst into fits of fresh weeping.

'Come away, little girl, at once,' said the indignant footman; but the lady put out one of her hands and took Flossy's.

'Leave the child with me,' she said to the man. 'I'll be better in a moment, little girl,' she continued, 'and then you shall tell me what you mean; but you have upset me talking about babies: it is not long since I buried my child, my only child.'

'I saw you,' said Flossy, nodding her bright head. 'I was in the cemetery and I saw you. Oh, didn't you cry bitter! but you needn't cry no more now, for G.o.d has sent you another little baby.'

'No, my little girl,' said the lady, 'He has not. I have asked Him, but it is not His will.'

'I guessed you'd want another baby,' said Flossy. 'I knew quite well you would, and she's waiting for you round the corner with Peter and Snip- snap. You put on your bonnet and come and look at her; she's a real beauty; she's got a dimple, and her name is d.i.c.kory.'

'I'll come,' said the lady in an excited voice. 'It's the very strangest thing I ever heard. A child coming to me like that. We'll slip out, little girl. James need not open the door for us.'

Flossy wondered who James was.

'Give me your hand, little girl,' continued the lady. 'And take me to the baby; I'll look at her anyhow.'

Peter was standing in a very sulky att.i.tude at the corner where the railings were. In his heart of hearts he was extremely anxious that Flossy's mission should fail. It seemed to him that every bit of the niceness, all the interest would go out of his life if he hadn't d.i.c.kory.

In some ways he considered that d.i.c.kory was more to him than she was to Flossy. He wondered how Flossy could even talk of parting with her. He hoped sincerely she would fail in winning the lady's pity.

But no, there they were both coming to meet him, the tall lady in deep black, and little eager wistful Flossy.

'This is the lady what cried,' she said to Peter. 'She have come out to see our baby. Show her our baby, Peter.'

In solemn gloomy silence Peter unfolded a morsel of the tartan shawl which covered the baby's face.