She bent over and stroked me, and then I saw that there were tears in her eyes.
I licked her pretty fingers, but she found my tongue rough, and smiled and pushed me away.
“And may I be excused from lessons, mamma?” asked Mary coming up to her. “It isn't that I don't want to study,” and my dear little mistress shook her head earnestly, “but really I feel so peculiar that I think if I don't get out somewhere I shall fly all to pieces.”
“You are no shirk,” said her mother gently, and she put her arm round her, “you are an honest child. You need not explain. Certainly, you are excused from lessons. I will telephone to Miss Roberts—I will take you wherever you wish to go.”
“Oh, thank you, thank you!” said Mary, and she caught her mother's hand and pressed it to her lips.
At this moment Anthony appeared in the door announcing lunch, and they all went out together.
All through the meal the little girl chattered about the country, and it was beautiful to see her parents' eyes resting on her. They said very little, but they answered all her questions.
When we went up-stairs Mary had to go and lie down and not speak for one hour. This was her old nurse's decision, when she saw her flushed face.
I felt flushed myself, but there was no one to make me lie down, so I gave way to my excitement and crept out in the hall. I absolutely had to talk to some one, so I thought I would try that queer Slyboots.
Mary had made her a nice bed on the lounge, and she lay there looking like a gutter queen. She always wore a ribbon. Mary didn't put one on me, but she had to do something to give Slyboots distinction.