Terry was greatly distressed at this news until she had seen Granny looking, to her eyes, just the same as ever, after which she was quite contented. Only, how was the day to be spent?
There was a little excitement about the unpacking of her things and setting out the little presents she had got for Granny. Nurse Nancy too had to be surprised and delighted at the gift of a nice, large, white lawn kerchief, hemmed by Terencia, such as Nancy was accustomed to wear folded round her neck and across her breast, and which was so becoming to her dear old black eyes and brown face. And after that gratifying presentation how could Nurse Nancy be exceedingly strict and distrustful on that particularly wet and dark December morning? On the contrary, she was in her most amiable and indulgent humour.
"I've got such a fine lot of toys for good children," she said, and began opening the cupboards and drawers. "Here's dolls and soldiers, and bricks and all sorts of what-not. And you'll amuse yourselves with them like good childher, for I'm goin' to be an hour or so in there, attendin' on your gran'ma. Or will I send up Bridget to be lookin' afther ye?"
"Oh no, please!" said Terry, "we can look after ourselves till you come back. Now, can't we, Turly?"
Turly, who was riding from Kimberley to Pretoria on the newly-painted rocking-horse, waved an assent, and Nurse Nancy left the nursery without misgiving.
She was not long gone before Terry began to get impatient with the new dolls. She had inspected them inside and outside, found what they were made of, satisfied herself as to whether or not their clothes came off and on, tossed up their curls and smoothed them down again, shaken them up and told them to stand up straight, which they promptly refused to do. At last it seemed that there was nothing more to be done with them.
"Oh, you are stupid!" she exclaimed; "staring with your glassy eyes, always your same pink cheeks, and never saying a word."
"Dolls don't talk," said Turly, who was now solemnly engaged in making a play on the floor with a box of soldiers.
"Of course they don't," said Terry. "That's just what it is. I hate playing with things that have got no life in them!"
"Soldiers aren't alive," said Turly, as one tumbled over and he set it up again, "but I'm having a splendid battle."