"Well, Nellie?" said Walter affectionately.
Nellie blushed. "I don't know, Walter, but I guess what you mean, and I should like to do anything I could."
"I should think, if you really mean sensible duties," said Arthur, "that Nellie has no need to be ashamed, as she is always helping everybody, and being just as kind as she can be."
"Arthur always praises me," said Nellie; "but now, Walter, we will question you. What are you going to do?"
"Ah, that's it, is it? Well and good; but I do not mean to tell you that to-day. Is that hard? I am only going to give you a hint, which will last you till to-morrow to think about. I shall not even explain a word about it, and just leave you this text to think of. I will tell you my little plans to-morrow."
He drew from his pocket a well-worn little Bible, and turning over the leaves soon found these words: "'Ye are not your own. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.'"
* * * * * *
After tea, Walter proposed a game at rounders. Ada and Arthur were capital players; Netta and Isabel were not to be despised; and the game went on with great spirit. Nellie said she would rather watch, and she held the baby while the nurse and Simmons did the final packing up; and then she sent them to explore the castle.
At seven o'clock the carriage and the donkeys came up the road leading to the cottage, and Tom was told to give a loud whistle to collect the party. The advent of the donkeys was a fresh delight. The children did not need much telling as to which steed to choose. They were soon off; the donkeys were on their homeward road, and knew it; and the children had plenty of jogging before they had done. Bump, bump, they went, until Nellie said she should be too stiff to walk to-morrow. Ada and Arthur declared they did not mind a bit, and let the animals go at any pace they chose; only sorry that they soon distanced the others, and had to bump along without the pleasant sympathy of fellow-sufferers. It was all fun, however, and perhaps the greatest enjoyment of that enjoyable day.
By the time all reached the farm, they were pretty well tired out. Tom was carried up to his mother's room, and she and Simmons quickly and tenderly undressed him, and laid him in his little bed. Nurse meanwhile did the same for her baby; Dolly had a few tears, but denied that she was the least tired. Nevertheless, before Nellie had well tucked her up, she was fast asleep. The rest were glad to take arm-chairs, sofas, or stools, and to rest quietly; while Mrs. Arundel took out the interesting book she was reading to them and offered to begin.