“Where are we going?” Peggy asked.
“We are going to Toyland,” said Wooden. “We all go there every night when people are asleep, and it is a lovely place; I am sure you will like it, dear. And I must tell you that it is very seldom we are allowed to take little girls there. When you were so kind to me, and rescued me from Mabel, I told the Queen about it, and asked if I could bring you. And she said that if you went on being kind to me for three years and a week I might bring you; but if you once grew tired of me and neglected me, the three years and a week would have to begin all over again. You can’t think how I have been looking forward to it, dear. Yesterday I was able to tell the Queen that you had never once neglected me, and Lady Grace said the same. She is one of the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting, and she thinks a deal of her. So the Queen said, ‘I shall be very glad to see such a nice little girl. Bring her tomorrow.’”
When Wooden told her this Peggy remembered that she had not been quite so attentive to Wooden since Lady Grace had come, and wondered what would have happened if she had left her to sleep on the chest of drawers with all her clothes on that very night. It would have been too awful if she had had to begin the three years and a week all over again, after so nearly getting through it once.
But Wooden did not refer to that at all, and Peggy felt grateful to her, and took hold of her hand and squeezed it. And Wooden squeezed Peggy’s hand in return, and smiled at her and said again, “Toyland is a wonderful place. I am sure you will like it.”
When they had passed through the village Teddy took the road towards the sea. He drove very well, and talked all the time to Lady Grace, sometimes leaning towards her and saying something in his gruff, hearty voice, and sometimes throwing his head back and laughing loudly. Lady Grace seemed to be receiving his attentions kindly, but Wooden looked a little anxious, and leant forward sometimes and joined in the conversation.
“Lady Grace is engaged to Colonel Jim of the Lifeguards,” she explained to Peggy. “The Queen takes a great interest in the young couple, and I promised her that I would give an eye to Lady Grace. The Queen trusts me, you know, dear.”
“Shall I see the Queen?” asked Peggy. “What is she like?”
“She is not very well,” said Wooden sadly. “I don’t know whether you will be able to see her, but I hope so.”
“What is the matter with her?” asked Peggy.