"Cry-baby," muttered Maurice, and even Mrs. Desart said, "Carrots, I wonder at your behaving so when your aunt and cousin are here. Floss, do you know what is the matter with him?"
"No, mamma," said Floss, looking as she always did when Carrots was in distress, ready to cry herself.
"Carrots," said Captain Desart, sharply, "go to the nursery till you learn to behave properly."
Carrots got slowly down off his high chair, and crept away. But everybody looked troubled and uncomfortable.
Auntie hated to see people looking troubled and uncomfortable. She thought a minute, and then she turned to Mrs. Desart.
"Lucy," she said, "will you let me try what I can do with the poor little fellow? I am sure it was not naughtiness made him cry."
And almost before Mrs. Desart could reply, auntie was off to the nursery in search of Carrots.
He had left off crying, and was sitting quietly by the window, looking out at his old friend the sea.
"What are you thinking about, my poor old man?" said auntie, fondly.
Carrots looked up at her. "I like you to call me that," he said. "I was thinking about our hoops and what a long time four weeks is."