constant surprise to Tom, and he was
relieved by occasional flashes of temper, which showed him that the old
Susie was only sleeping, not dead!

But at last Dick was able to be wheeled down to the sands in Alick's
perambulator, and perhaps it was the joy of his recovery that turned
Susie's head, or perhaps she was tired of her long spell of goodness, but
whatever the reason, she was particularly teasing and tiresome. She did
not like to see her mother sitting close to Dick, ready to wheel him home
if he was tired; and she would not allow her to read in peace, but kept
breaking in with silly questions and remarks.

"You never let _me_ sit in your pocket," she said at last crossly.

"My dear Susie"--mother shut her book with a very faint sigh--"there is
not room for all of you on my lap. I should have to nurse an arm or a leg
at a time."

"You could _make_ room," said Susie.

"She would be like the donkey that wanted to be a lap-dog, wouldn't she,
mother?" said Tom. "It sat upon its master's lap."

Every one laughed, except Susie.

"Well, I'm not a donkey," she said, "and I'm not a lap-dog; and, besides,
you want to yourself."

"No, I don't," said Tom stoutly. "I hate to sit on any one's lap; if you
are so anxious you can sit on nurse's."

Susie's eyes threatened to overflow.

"Oh, don't cry, Susie," said her mother, in alarm, "or I shall have to
put up my umbrella. Go and build a castle with Tom, and take Amy. I trust
her to you. Nurse and I must get the babies home."

Susie always rose to any demand made upon her, and was proud of being
trusted. She gathered Dick's shells and seaweed and glittering stones
skilfully into his pail, and was really helpful in rolling up the rugs
and cushions. She was so pleased to see his rather thin, unsteady legs
gathering strength as they wobbled slowly over the sand. When she put her
arm round him, she was proud to feel that he really needed support. At
the foot of the wooden steps leading up the cliff his mother took him
in her arms. She was looking tired and pale, but she smiled very sweetly
at Susie.

"My kind little daughter," she said; and Susie beamed.

When she got back to Tom and Amy she found that they were not alone: two
other children, a boy and a girl, with bare feet and tucked-up skirts,
were standing talking to them.

The boy had black eyes and black hair, and the girl was the image of him;
her long, thin legs were like pipe stems, and she spoke in a loud,