"As long as we are in the country, I suppose, ma'am," said Nurse, with rather a shocked face.
"I am not going to have you back in town for some time. I am going to let our town house, but I will talk to you about this later on."
Nurse looked rather dismayed, but she said nothing.
This was all that the children heard. They were pleased at the idea of staying on in the country, and now that Nurse was more occupied with their mother, and less in the nursery, they enjoyed greater liberty. Jane was very good-natured, and was not particular about their behaviour. When she went out walking with them they could do pretty well as they liked. One afternoon they met Dreamikins with her maid. She welcomed them with rapture.
"I've been longing to see you. Cherubine and me feel quite dull. Fibo told me your daddy was dead. Are you very sad?"
"Of course we are," said Daffy. "We've cried gallons, and all the house is miserable, and everybody wears black dresses but us; it's a shame!"
"Do you like black frocks? Why?"
"Because they don't show the dirt," said Freda promptly. "We hoped Mums would give us some, but she won't."
"I s'pose you've been too miserable to think of being sheep."
"No-o," said Freda slowly; "we've laid plans for the stranger's bedroom, but it isn't ready yet."