"My dear, you must put your warmer frock on to-day," she said.
"Oh, Nurse, see how bright the sun is!" exclaimed Eliza, in a disappointed tone. "And we are all ready to start," she added.
"Never mind! We will only walk slowly down to the beach that you may soon overtake us. But this is just one of the days when your warmer frock is likely to be useful, for there is sure to be a chill in the air after the rain."
Nurse's advice was not pleasant to the girl, and she reluctantly turned back and put on the warm frock instead of the bright pink cotton she had on. She did it as quickly as she could, and ran along the terrace to catch Nurse before they could get down to the beach; but at the corner she also saw Eustace coming from the direction of the shop, and waited for him to join her. He had a little bundle tied up in his handkerchief; the handle of his spade passed through the knot, and the bundle hanging over his shoulder.
"What have you got there, Master Eustace?" she asked.
"I'm Robinson Crusoe," answered the little fellow, in an important tone, and marching on by her side.
Nurse had been reading some chapters of Robinson Crusoe to him during the last few days, and his mind was full of the adventures of that hero.
Eliza was ready to enter into the little boy's amusement, and so she said—
"I'll be your Man Friday."
"Will you?" said the child, eagerly. But the next minute he said, "How can you—you're only a girl?"