They snuggled down into their beds again, rejoicing that they had not been seen by any one. Daffy dropped off to sleep quickly in spite of her rough blanket. Freda lay still with wide awake eyes. She trembled when, later on, Nurse came into the room with candle in hand. She stood over the children's beds for an instant, and Freda breathed quickly. Would she see there was no sheet?
But Nurse passed on, muttering to herself as she sometimes did, and Freda caught the words:
"Poor fatherless children, and their mother bored at having to think about them!"
Then Freda burrowed her head into her pillow, and sleep soon came to her.
The next morning was bright and sunny. But there was no sunshine in the nurseries, for Nurse had quickly discovered the absence of pillow-cases and sheets, and her wrath was great. Jane was called, and the children questioned, but Freda and Daffy maintained a stubborn silence.
Nurse took hold of Freda by the shoulders and shook her.
"Not one morsel of breakfast shall you have until you've told me what you've done with your sheet, you naughty child!"
Then Freda lost her temper. She flung the key down on the floor in front of Nurse.
"Go and find out for yourself; I shan't tell you! I hate you!"
And even mild-tempered Daffy echoed: "Yes, go and find them, Nurse. You always call us naughty before you know!"