"Yes," continued Mrs. Desart, "I had meant to tell you about it before, but I have kept putting it off—" she stopped and seemed to hesitate.
"Why, mamma?" said Floss again. "Don't you like us to go? Are you coming with us, mamma?"
"Are we going to auntie's?" said Carrots.
His asking this seemed to please his mother.
"You would like to go to auntie's, wouldn't you, Carrots?" she said.
Carrots stroked his mother's shawl up and down two or three times before he answered.
"I'd like to go if you would come too," he said at last, "but I think I would rather stay at home, thank you, if you can't come."
Mrs. Desart's eyes filled with tears. "Poor little Carrots!" she said, softly smoothing his curls with her hand. "But if it would please me for Floss and you to go without me?" she said.
"I'll go if you want me to go, mamma," said Carrots.
"I must explain a little," said Mrs. Desart, and then she went on to tell the children how it was. The doctor had said she must not risk another winter at Sandyshore, and it had been arranged for her to go to a warmer climate. Cecil and Louise were to go with her; Captain Desart would be with them as much as he possibly could, and Maurice was to live at school. And what concerned the two little ones almost more than anything, nurse was to go too! "I must have some one kind and sensible with me, in case, in case—" and again Mrs. Desart hesitated.