Daffy ran forward, but, on the impulse of the moment, Freda dropped her bag and sat upon it. It was the only way she could hide it.
Daffy stopped when she saw her sister was not following her.
"Go on, Daffy; I can't get up," said Freda desperately.
"What is Freda doing?" asked Mrs. Harrington, as she introduced her little girl to a pleasant-looking motherly woman—a Lady Aline Cotteswode—and her son, an invalided soldier from the War.
"She can't get up," said Daffy nervously.
"Has she hurt herself? Oh, I must see my goddaughter!"
In another moment, to Freda's horror, her mother and her visitors left the motor and came along the terrace to where she sat.
Now Freda felt she was in a desperate plight. In another moment the bag would be exposed, and she would be handed to Nurse in deep disgrace.
"I must tell a lie, I must, I must," she said frantically to herself.
"Get up at once, Freda. What are you doing?" said Mrs. Harrington sharply.