I was all there though. I closed the door so that our voices couldn't possibly be heard from the inside, and then I faced round upon Serry.
'What's the meaning of this?' I said. 'The very moment nurse's back is turned you begin disobeying her?'
Serena's eyes sparkled. She has very funny eyes. Sometimes, when she's very mischievous, they look really green, though sometimes they're very pretty.
'Then you shouldn't go plotting for you and Anne to have treats, and to keep us out of them,' she said.
'"Treats,"—nonsense,' said. 'As if it was a treat. A simple thing like this, coming down to listen to the organ.'
'Well, why shouldn't Maud and I have a simple pleasure too?'
'You don't care for music, at least you hate sitting still, and Maud was quite happy at the farm. She didn't want to come.'
'No, Jack, truly I didn't,' said Maud almost crying. 'But Serry said if I didn't she'd run off into the wood and hide herself so that we couldn't find her. And she told the servant to tell Mrs. Parsley we'd gone with you after all, and we'd be all home soon. And Mrs. Parsley was upstairs, and she called down, "All right, my dears," and Serry said if I said anything she'd——' I never knew what Serry had said she'd do, for now Maud began crying, and Anne put her arms round her, and kissed and comforted her.
Then Anne and I looked at each other. What should we do? After all it wasn't a very big thing; it wouldn't do any harm for them to sit listening to the music too if Serry would be quiet. And perhaps she would be, to make up for having been so naughty. So I said, 'As you are here, you had better stay. Take Maud into the church, Anne. I'll look after Serry.'
But when I was going to take hold of Serry she slipped away.