Freda and Daffy were punctual to the moment. They were obliged to go round the front way, for Nurse accompanied them to the door; but Dreamikins had been watching for them and came running to meet them. She did not seem afraid of Nurse's grimness, but held out her small hand.
"How do you do? Will you come to tea too? Are you the governess?"
"I'm the young ladies' nurse," said Nurse, in her grand tone. But she was rather pleased at being taken for a governess.
"No, I'll not come in, thank you; and, Miss Freda and Miss Daffy, you're to be good children, and I shall expect you back at seven. Jane will come for you."
She turned away and left them.
Dreamikins stood confronting them for a moment in silence. Then she smiled seraphically:
"Cherubine and me like you awfully much. Do you think you shall like us?"
"Fibo said we would," said Daffy cautiously; but Freda caught hold of Dreamikins' hand.
"If you can play pretence games we'll just love you," she said with enthusiasm.
Dreamikins led them out into the garden, and for the next hour they played together. Fibo said he wanted to read, and he would talk to them later. When tea came out under the shady trees, the three little girls seemed quite tired and exhausted enough to enjoy the rest.