CHAPTER X.
SOME RAINY ADVENTURES.
| "Wildly the winds of heaven began to blow, |
| ....... |
| Whilst from the jealous, unrelenting skies |
| The inevitable July down-pour came." |
Another winter came and went. Ted had another birthday, which made him eleven years old. Another happy Christmas time—this year of the old-fashioned snowy kind, for even in November there was skating, and Ted skated like a Dutchman; and the child-life in the pleasant home went on its peaceful way, with much of sunshine and but few clouds. Narcissa, too, was growing a big girl. She could say all her words clearly now, without lisping or funny mistakes, though, as she was the youngest bird in the nest, I am not sure but that some of the big people thought this rather a pity! And then when the frost and the snow were done with, the ever new spring time came round again, gradually growing into the brilliant summer; and this year the children's hearts rejoiced even more than usual, for a great pleasure was before them. This year they were to spend the holidays with their parents in a quite, quite country place, and many were the delightful fancies and dreams that they made about it, even while it was some distance off.
"I do love summer," said Cissy one day. They were standing at the window one May morning, waiting for their father and mother to come to breakfast. It was a Sunday morning, so there was no hurrying off to school. "Don't you love summer, Ted?"
"Yes, summer's awfully jolly," he replied. "But so's winter. Just think of the snowballing and the skating. I do hope next winter will be a regular good one, for I shall be ever so much bigger I expect, and I'll try my best to beat them all at skating."
His face and eyes beamed with pleasure. Just then his mother came in; she had heard his last words.
"Next winter!" she said. "That's a long time off. Who knows what may happen before then?"
She gave a little sigh; Ted and Cissy looked at each other. They knew what mother was thinking of. Since last winter a great grief had come to her. She had lost one who had been to her what Ted was to Cissy, and the sorrow was still fresh. Ted and Cissy drew near to their mother. Ted stroked her hand, and Cissy held up her rosy mouth for a kiss.