'I don't know how to,' answered Ella gravely.
It did present some difficulty, almost as much, indeed, as being really good, and the children silently reflected for some moments.
'We must sit perfectly still with folded hands, looking as stiff as pokers,' said Syd at last.
'But sometimes good children can do nice things,' observed Ella, gravely.
'I wonder what?' said Syd, doubtfully.
'Well!—Well! sometimes, for instance, they give pleasant surprises.'
'Ella, you're a brick!' exclaimed her brother admiringly. 'That's a splendid idea! Now let's think what surprise we can prepare for Father and Mother when they arrive this evening.'
'Let's tidy the nursery,' proposed Ella.
'Too great a surprise,' Millie would have observed, had she been there to hear. 'Too stupid,' exclaimed Sydney instead. 'Anybody can do that.'
'Let's learn a bit of poetry to recite when they come.'