Page:Comin' Thro' the Rye (1898).djvu/102

94 ever is the boy talking about?" Hold your tongue, Master Alan, and mind your book."

"I shan't," says Alan, resting his chin on his hand and regarding nurse with meditative eyes. "You know as well as I do. I heard Jack humming something the other day about—

And I asked him who she was, and he said Bathsheba. And I looked it out, and I shan't ever think much of David again, psalms and all."

Nurse looks at him helplessly as he returns to his book. Why do our elders always look so completely put out of countenance when we show any signs of shooting up in unexpected directions? They did the same when they were children.

Taking advantage of her departure to quell a riot among the boys in the next room, I catch Dolly's hand and pull her away with me.

"May not Alan come?" she asks, looking back.

"No," I say in a whisper; "I only want you." I trot her into my bedroom, and having informed her of the trip I propose taking, ask her if she can get at her hat and jacket without nurse's knowing.

Yes, she can, and, all delight and round eyes, she departs on tiptoe, obtains the coveted articles, and in five minutes, after patient and careful dodging of mother, Amberley, Simpkins, and Alice, we stand on the high road, and are scampering away as fast as we can pelt towards the Parade.

Oh! the bonny, bonny sea! Though I see and stand by it every day, it always gives me a new delight every time my eyes light thereon. It is only half-past ten; there is plenty of time and to spare, so we betake ourselves to Tippet's, the confectioner