"I should think we will indeed."
When he came back they met him at the gate.
"I'm not coming, Ted," said Nell, buttoning her glove.
He smiled.
"Good-bye, then."
"You see, we've given Sarah a holiday, and Aunt Kezia would faint if she knew we'd left the house unguarded."
"There's Kate Kearney."
"Oh! You cruel boy! Why, Sheila Pat took her into the maids next door. You don't think we'd leave her all alone, do you? No, I'm going to stay and guard the house. Do hurry, we're missing precious moments."
Sheila Pat led the way into the picture gallery, lured on by a glimpse of a large water-colour painting—just a bit of her own Emerald Isle. How they enjoyed those pictures!
"Oh, Teddie, they're beautiful—beautiful! Can't you see how he loves every bit he paints? He's got the spirit of it all—the meaning—so beautifully! Look at that dear, misty bit, over there, with the sun breaking through! Isn't it glorious? She never cries without a laugh at the end of it, you know! And those mountains there—so mysterious—so silent! And the little stream laughing up at them—it's such an impudent little stream—all laughter and ripples and sun-flecks—no awing that—" Her breath caught suddenly and she stopped.