Nan sank back among her cushions not half satisfied. "Dr. Pardee lives near, too. Just as near as Dr. Milbank does," she persisted.
The governess made no response, and just then Delia came staggering in under the weight of a huge brass tray which she bore in her arms.
Miss Blake jumped to her feet. "We're going to have a dinner-party up here to-night, Nan," she said. "Won't it be fun?" and she set to work unfolding a strange foreign-looking stand that Nan had never seen before and upon which Delia carefully placed the tray.
"Why, what a dandy little table it makes!" exclaimed Nan, admiringly. "Where did it come from?"
"I brought it from London, but it was made in India," explained Miss Blake.
Nan's eyes softened. "Where papa is!" she murmured softly to herself. "You have lots of nice things," she added, after a moment. "These pillows are downright daisies. I s'pose they belong to you."
The governess served her with soup. "They are yours whenever you care to use them," she returned in her quiet way.
"It's jolly having dinner up here," said Nan, not quite knowing how to respond to such a generous offer.
"Yes, isn't it?" assented the governess.
"Mrs. Newton don't use her basement for a dining-room, and neither does Mr. Turner. I wish we didn't. I think it would be perfectly fine if we could have ours up here, too."