CHAPTER X
OF course Tommy was much too excited to sleep. When a girl called Annabel is coming to live in your house for ever and ever it naturally absorbs all your thoughts.
Annabel’s father was a naval officer who was sailing away from Plymouth for two years, and Annabel and Annabel’s mother were to live in Tommy’s house until he came home again.
All Tommy’s particular friends, with the single exception of Ruthie, were looking forward to the coming of Annabel, but Tommy had made it quite clear to them that only now and again would she be able to give them much attention, as most of the time she would be helping him to carry out the most wonderful of wonderful games.
A late train this very February night was to bring Annabel and her mother to Draeth. Tommy reduced the bed clothes to indescribable confusion while he waited for their coming.
“Mammy, has Annabel come yet? Mammy, what’s Annabel like?”
Mrs. Tregennis came upstairs and for the twentieth time that day described the little girl.
She had seen neither Annabel nor Annabel’s mother. It was with the naval officer himself that she had made all arrangements, and as he had crisp, curly hair, and very blue eyes she decided that his little daughter possessed these qualities too. Tommy, therefore, pictured Annabel with golden curls, rosy cheeks, blue eyes and a merry smile.