"How tired that poor little girl will be!" said Mrs. Desart pityingly. "Children, you must all be quiet in the morning so as not to wake her early. And you must be very gentle and kind to her, for you know she is not accustomed to companions."
"Yes, mamma," said Floss and Carrots promptly. Mott said nothing, for, of course, the speech could not have been addressed to him. Mr. Maurice Desart, nearly thirteen years old, could not be supposed to be a companion to a mite of a girl of six.
"It won't be difficult to be quiet to-morrow morning," said Floss to Carrots, "for I expect I shall be very sleepy, as I have quite made up my mind to stay awake to-night, till I hear them come."
It was then eight o'clock, and Floss was going to bed. Carrots had been in bed nearly an hour, but was not yet asleep. He soon dropped off, however, and how long do you think Floss kept awake? Till twenty-three minutes past eight, or not so late probably, for that was the time by the nursery clock, when nurse came in to see that her charges were tucked up for the night, and found them both fast asleep!
They were in a state of great expectation the next morning when they were being dressed, but they remembered their promise and were very quiet.
"When shall we see Sybil?" asked Carrots; "will she have breakfast in the nursery?"
"Of course not," said Floss, "she won't be up for ever so long, I dare say."
"Poor little thing, she must be very tired," said nurse.
"Did you see her last night?" asked Floss eagerly.
Nurse shook her head. "It was past ten when they arrived," she said, "the little lady was put to bed at once, your mamma and sisters only saw her for a minute."