'My father is in heaven, and that's the grandest place to be in.'
Coming to this climax was too much for Nancy, and the thoughts of that place of which they had been having so much talk subdued their rising ire.
Teddy said reproachfully, after a minute's silence, 'Ipse was nearly getting angry with you then. You're such a dreadful girl for making me quarrel with you.'
'You won't let me say my father is as good as yours,' protested Nancy.
'He isn't better. Yes—don't get angry, Nancy; let's say they're just the same.'
And with this admission Nancy was for the time pacified.
Before they parted she looked at her little companion with solemn eyes.
'I won't promise, but I'll think about belonging to the Captain. I should like to go to heaven.'
It was one day soon after this that Teddy was straying over the fields in his happy, careless fashion; fond as he was of games with the village boys, often there were times when he liked his own society best, and he wandered on talking to himself, and gathering grass and wild-flowers as he went. His quick eyes soon noted some sheep making their way through a gap in the hedge, and from thence they were going through an open gate into the high road.
'Those are Farmer Green's sheep,' quoth he to himself. 'I'm glad of it—horrid old man he is! No, Ipse, be quiet; that isn't the way to think of him. I'll go and drive them back again!'