It was raining fast, softly, persistently, and it did not mean to stop, even though Dreamikins had been asked to tea, and it was now four o'clock. Tea was laid on the round table in the nursery. Freda and Daffy had inspected it very critically when Nurse was out of the room washing Bertie's face and hands and putting him into a clean holland suit in honour of the occasion.
There was a big currant cake in the centre of the table, some strawberry jam, and a large plate of cut bread-and-butter.
"I should like one of Mum's teas," said Daffy, with a sigh, "with sangwiches, and hot tea-cakes, and sugar-iced cakes, and chocolates. I would like Dreamikins to think we had very nice teas."
"And tea in the garden is so much nicer than in a room," sighed Freda.
"But she wouldn't have tea in the garden to-day," said Daffy.
Then they went to the window to watch for her coming. It was Nurse who told them she was sure she would not come, and now they had begun to believe it.
Bertie came up to them, and stretched up on tiptoes to see too.
"There's a b'llella!" he suddenly announced.
And, sure enough, his quick eyes had discovered the big umbrella first. It was waving about rather uncertainly, and two tiny legs and feet were underneath it.
"She's coming, Nurse! And all by herself Dreamikins is allowed to come out to tea alone."