“I believe it hasn’t even been swept yet!” she whispered, in a shocked voice. “We’ll sweep it first, shall we?”
It was a grand idea, and Loveday agreed delightedly. Nurse still kept her nursery brushes in a cupboard on the top landing; they would get those, then no one would know what they were doing, and when Nurse came up presently, all hot and tired, to sweep and dust the room she would find it all done, and have a most beautiful surprise; and she would not scold them at all; she would be so glad, and perhaps she would let them have some of the “At Home” cakes for their tea!
They hurried up the stairs very gently, and Loveday carried down a long-handled brush, while Priscilla carried the dustpan in one hand and the brush in the other, so that they should not clatter.
“Now close the door,” whispered Priscilla; and Loveday turned to do it, bringing her broom-handle with a sharp tap against a picture which hung by it. Priscilla was too busy to hear the blow, or to see what had happened.
“It was such a little tap,” said Loveday to herself, as she gazed ruefully up at the crack which ran quite across the glass of the picture.
Priscilla was on her knees by that time, brushing the carpet as hard as she could with the short-handled brush.
“What shall I do?” asked Loveday. “I can’t use this brush; it is so tall it knocks my head.”
“You shall dust,” panted Priscilla, looking up with a very red face.
“But I haven’t a duster!”
“You have a handkerchief, haven’t you? Use that.”