"We could go alone, couldn't we, Lucia?" asked Ivor.
Lucia looked puzzled; she glanced out of the window, and then back at their little eager faces.
"I do not suppose you could come to any harm," she said; "but I wish you had been happy to stay here to-day."
"Oh, do let us!" coaxed Ivor. "We have been awfully good now, haven't we? Not a bit of trouble; and we will be back by dinner time."
"I should think so!" exclaimed Lucia. "Of course you will, long before that."
The boys discreetly said no more; they considered that this was permission, and would not run the chance of its being revoked.
So, before nurse and Lucia had finished the little housekeeping duties which generally occupied them for a short time, the two boys were well on their way, their money jingling in their pockets, and their hearts beating in anticipation of their "spree."
About half an hour before dinner the happy party on the lawn saw the two boys coming slowly along the road.
"They look tired enough," remarked nurse; "they should have taken my advice, and not have gone on such a day; and footsore too, I do declare! I'm sure Evan is limping."
Lucia ran to meet them. "My dear boys!" she exclaimed. "You have been a long time; what has kept you so long?"