In the distance she heard the merry laugh of Polly’s little sister, Pearl. Flower suddenly colored, her eyes brightened, and she said to herself:
“That is a good idea; I will go and have a talk with Nurse. I can find out somehow from Nurse what Polly likes best.”
She ran at once to the nurseries.
“My dear Miss Flower,” exclaimed Nurse. “Why, wherever have you been, Miss? I thought you was with the others. Well! you do look tired and fagged.”
“I have walked home,” said Flower, carelessly. “I didn’t care to be out so long; picnics are nothing to me; I’m accustomed to that sort of thing on a big scale at Ballarat, you know. I walked home, and then I thought I’d have a chat with you, if you didn’t mind.”
“For sure, dear. Sit you down in that easy chair, Miss Flower; and would you like to hold baby for a bit? Isn’t she sweet to-day? I must say I never saw a more knowing child for her age.”
“She is very pretty,” said Flower, carelessly. “But I don’t think I’ll hold her, Nurse. I’m not accustomed to babies, and I’m afraid she might break or something. Do you know I never had a baby in my arms in my life? I don’t remember David when he was tiny. No, I never saw anything so young and soft and tiny as this little Pearl; she is very pretty.”
“Eh, dear lamb,” said Nurse, squeezing the baby to her heart, “she’s the very sweetest of the sweet. Now you surprise me, Miss Flower, for I’d have said you’d be took up tremendous with babies, you has them winsome ways. Why, look at the little dear, she’s laughing even now to see you. She quite takes to you, Miss—the same as she does to Miss Polly.”
“She takes to Polly, does she?” said Flower.
“Take to her? I should say so, Miss; and as to Miss Polly, she just worships baby. Two or three times a day she comes into the nursery, and many and many a time she coaxes me to let her bathe her. The fact is, Miss Flower, we was all in a dreadful taking about Miss Polly when her mamma died. She was quite in a stunned sort of state, and it was baby here brought her round. Ever since then our little Miss Pearl has been first of all with Miss Polly.”