"Who was 'he,' duckums?"
"Mr. Willie Riley," in a dignified voice. "And I shared his tea!"
triumphantly.
"Hurry up, Denis!" Nell's face was worried, anxious. "I've her dry
things all ready. But I think she ought to go to bed--"
"I won't! Sure, Nell O'Brien, I'm not a baby to go to bed at seven
o'clock!"
Nell, rubbing her down, found she was shivering and trembling all
through her slim little body. She huddled her into warm, dry clothes,
rubbed her toes, hugged her.
"Asthore, asthore, you've given us all such a bad time!"
"But, Nell, I'm really not a baby! I don't see why you make such a
fuss."
"You're absurd, Atom! We didn't know what might be happening to you.
We don't know now what was happening. You _must_ tell us--"
"I went out, and--and I got lost, Nell."
"But where did you go? And why?"
"Oh, we were all so frightened!" interposed Molly. "And I felt so awful,
because I told Nell you were next door. I never dreamed you'd said you
wouldn't go, and I heard the maid say it to Sarah, and oh, Sarah cried
and said motor cars killed all the children, and I do think you're
awfully naughty--" She stopped, out of breath.
"So do I." Nell's arms were round her again; she gave her a little
shake. "I'm dreadfully angry with you, sweet, and you shall have some
nice hot bread and milk presently."
"I don't want it, Nell! I shared Mr. Riley's tea."
"Tell me why you went out, Atom," she coaxed.
The little body stiffened.
"A person doesn't--always--want to--to tell things," she said, a note of
desperation in her voice. "I'll tell you all about Mr. Riley," eagerly.