"John Monday is a rather dissatisfied sort of a boy, isn't he?" Mr. Dawson asked, by way of turning the conversation into another channel.
"He does grumble a lot," Mousey replied, "and sometimes he talks of running away, but I don't think he will, really."
They had now reached the park. After walking around, and looking at the flowers, they sat down on a seat to rest. A group of nursemaids and children were standing near, amongst whom were Mrs. Downing's little ones and their nurse. Mousey pointed them out to her uncle; and at that moment the twins caught sight of Mousey and ran up to her, casting shy, curious glances at her companion the while.
"Won't you speak to me?" Mr. Dawson asked, smiling.
They looked at the big man silently for a minute, then each shook hands with him in turn, afterwards sitting on the seat between him and Mousey till their nurse, having finished her gossip with her friends, came up and led them off, saying it would soon be their bed-time, and she must take them home.
"I'm so glad you've seen them, for now you'll be able to tell Aunt Eliza what they're like," Mousey said to her uncle. "It is nice going to school, Uncle Dick. I wish you could see Nellie Thomas, but I'll explain her to you, and then you'll be able to picture her, won't you? She has blue eyes and brown hair and a turn-up nose."
"I think I can picture her from your description," Mr. Dawson said gravely, "though I won't say I should recognise her if I met her in the street," he added; at which Mousey laughed.
"Do you know, child, I don't think you'd like to leave Haughton now," he remarked presently. "What would you say if I took you home with me to-night never to return here again?"
"I should love to see Aunt Eliza," she replied, "but I should not like to leave Mrs. Downing's school and the girls; and then there's Maria, and I think Cousin Robert would miss me a little. But you don't mean it, do you, Uncle Dick?"
"No, my dear, I do not. I am beginning to see that you are happier than I thought possible. I hope, Mousey, you read your Bible every day, and remember your dear mother's teaching?"