“Careful!” said Mrs. Ives, “when I’ve had six of my own, and buried five of ’em. You’re the only one left, Clara, and your freckles was always a worry. I not understand how to look after a child! I don’t know what you mean.”
“Of course, mother, you’re splendid with children. Well, I’ll be back in an hour or so.”
Nurse Ives put on a smart hat—the hat was made of black lace—she covered her sandy locks and freckled face with a spotted veil, and, nodding to her mother and the child, went out.
“She do look smart—quite the lady,” said the old woman, glancing at Piers as she spoke.
“She’s very handsome, and I love her,” he said.
“Well, now, child, it surprises me to hear you talk. I never would have said Clara was handsome, though she is my own darter, but there’s no accounting for tastes. How close this room is! Now I’d like to go for a walk uncommon. Suppose you and me was to go out unbeknown to Clara?”
“Might we?” said little Piers, his face coloring.
“Might you? And what’s to hinder you if I say you may? We might go for a little stroll all by our two selves, mightn’t we?”
“I’d love it better than anything,” said little Piers. “But perhaps Nurse Clara——”
“Nurse Clara needn’t know, you little silly. Go and fetch your cap and we’ll be off.”
Little Piers looked puzzled for a moment; then his face lit up and he ran eagerly into the bedroom. He soon came back.
Mrs. Ives accompanied him into Clara’s bedroom. They searched high and low in vain.
“What a pity!” she said. “And I thought I’d like a spell of the air. Well, you look here, little boy, we will go out presently when Clara comes in.”
“And I could show you the house where I used to live; but oh, I forgot, I can’t—it would be telling my secret.”
“I wonder now, if I could guess it,” said Mrs. Ives in a thoughtful voice.
“What fun if you did,” he cried. “Nurse wouldn’t mind if you guessed it—that wouldn’t be _me_ telling.”
“Of course it wouldn’t. Well, now, let me see; you are high born?”
Piers nodded. “Good, good,” he exclaimed.
“If I was to see that house where you lived I could tell a lot more. Showing me the house isn’t letting out the secret.”
“Isn’t it? Perhaps not. I’d like to show you the house very much indeed.”
“But perhaps you have forgotten what part of London it’s in?”