d from bad colds in their heads, which they
had passed on to all the grown-ups in the house, and a cold in the head
makes grown-ups particularly cross, so the twins found.

Mum came up to the nursery with a very hoarse voice and streaming eyes,
but when she saw Nan she forgot about her own cold, and said that Nan
must go to bed at once, and have something warm to drink, and put a nice
hot-water bottle between the sheets. For a long time Nan said that
nothing would make her go to bed, but at last mum, who is very sweet,
and of whom Nan is really quite afraid, persuaded her to lie down, and
herself brought up a dose of quinine.

It had rained all the morning, but the sun was shining so brightly now
that the twins stood looking longingly out of the nursery window, while
mummie helped Nan into bed.

"Can we go out, mum?" asked Humpty.

"There is no one to take you out, darling," said mummie thoughtfully;
"but it is so nice and sunny now that I think you ought to go. It is too
wet to play in the garden, and if you go alone you must promise to
walk along the road to the end of the village, and straight back again.
Now, remember to walk where it is clean and dry, and keep moving, and do
not stop to play with the puddles, and when you come in you shall have
tea with me."

"Hooray!" shouted the children; "two treats in one afternoon!"

It did not take the twins long to get ready for their walk that
afternoon. They were so excited, for they had never been out alone for a
walk before, though, of course, they used to play by themselves in the
garden.

Each was inwardly hoping that they might meet Poor Jane, and so they
did. As they came out of the drive gate they saw Poor Jane shuffling
quickly up the road.

"Let's walk slowly," whispered Dumpty, quivering with excitement, "and
perhaps she will catch us up."

In a few minutes the old woman had overtaken them.

[Sidenote: Jane's New Gloves]

All Nurse's injunctions were forgotten. The children stood still and
stared, for Poor Jane was wearing a pair of brand new, red woollen
gloves! Poor Jane saw them looking, and she crossed from the other side
of the road and came near the children. Dumpty gave a little scream of
terror, but Humpty caught her by the hand, so that she could not run
away.

"Good afternoon," he said; "what nice red gloves you have!"

The old woman looked at her hands with great pride. "Beautiful red
gloves," she said, spreading out her fingers. "I ha