They were to go straight over the mountain instead of walking round by the road, which would have taken much longer.

So off they set--Olly skipping, and chattering as he always did; while Milly stuck close to her mother, telling her every now and then, when Olly left off talking, about their morning in the wood, the flowers they had gathered and the strawberries they had found.

At the top of the garden was a little gate, and beside the gate stood Bessie and Charlie, who had really been watching for the children all the morning, though they didn't dare to come into the garden without leave.
"Bessie, we are going to Aunt Emma's," said Milly, running up to them.
"Where are you and Charlie going to ?" "Nawhere," said Bessie, who, as usual, had her pinafore in her mouth, and never said more than one word at a time if she could help it.
"Nowhere! what do you do all the morning, Bessie ?" "I doan't know," said Bessie, gravely looking up at her; "sometimes I mind the baby." "Do you mind the baby, too?
Dear, dear! And what does Charlie do ?" "Nawthing," said Bessie again.

"He only makes himself dirty." "Don't you go to school ever ?" "No, but mother's going to send us," said Bessie, whose big eyes grew round and frightened at the idea, as if it was a dreadful prospect.

"Are you going to be away for all day ?" "Yes; we shan't be back till quite evening, mother says.