"I think," went on Floss, "I think it will be ready for telling you after breakfast. And if you like, you may listen to something I am going to ask nurse at breakfast, and, perhaps, that will help you to guess what the plan is."
At breakfast time Carrots was all ears. All ears and no tongue, so that nurse began to wonder if he was ill.
"I shouldn't like you to be ill the very day after Master Jack has gone," she said anxiously (Jack had gone up to town by the night train with his father), "one trouble at a time is quite enough for your poor mamma."
"Is Jack's going to the big school a trouble?" asked Floss, opening her eyes very wide, "I thought they were all very glad."
"My dear," said nurse solemnly, "one may be glad of a thing and sorry too. And changes mostly are good and bad together."
Floss did not say any more, but she seemed to be thinking about what nurse had said. Carrots was thinking too.
"When I'm a man," he said at last, "I won't go to a big school if Floss doesn't want me to."
Nurse smiled. "There's time enough to see about that," she said, "get on with your breakfast, Master Carrots; you'll never grow a big boy if you don't eat plenty."
"Nurse," said Floss, suddenly, "what's the dearest thing we eat? what costs most?"