"Could you see me all the time?" asked the child.
Nurse nodded, and the boy looked disappointed. "Then it isn't a far far way," he said, in a complaining tone.
"Quite far enough, Master Eustace," put in Eliza.
"You don't know anything about this place, for you did not come with us last year," retorted the boy, loftily.
And once more he discussed the subject with Nurse, but they could not arrive at any definite conclusion upon the matter of distance; and when the little boy went off again, Nurse repeated her charge to Eliza to keep her eyes upon and follow him at a distance if he went far.
For the next few days, however, Master Eustace had very little opportunity of going out of bounds, for each day in succession for nearly a week had to be spent indoors, it was so wet and chilly.
It was during this time that Nurse learned to appreciate Eliza for her unfailing patience and good temper in keeping the children amused during the weary hours when they could not get out even for a short walk all day. It was a relief to Nurse, and a boon to the little ones, who were disposed to want all the toys that had been left at home, and did not at all like the restrictions that had to be imposed upon them for the sake of other people in the house.
All the games that Eliza had ever played were brought into requisition, besides many others invented for the occasion.
At length the weather cleared, and the sun shone out as brilliantly as though the sky had never been dimmed by a cloud, and Eliza was almost as delighted as the children at the prospect of being able to go out on the sands once more.
They were all nearly ready to start, the children equipped with pails and spades, when Nurse noticed that Eliza had put on a cotton frock.