UP THE CHIMNEY Granny had little idea of what an eventful morning it had been when the children came to her in the afternoon, looking so nice and well-behaved, as if they had done nothing but bite their little thumbs in the nursery from the moment of their getting up till tea-time.

Nurse Nancy had persisted in carrying out her determination to leave her dear mistress in peaceful ignorance of whatever terrifying episodes might develop during the sojourn of the children in the house.

She had suffered enough from their pranks in the summer, and she must now be allowed to believe that they were grown as serious and as quietly-behaved as any old people.
Fortunately the house was big and the walls were thick, and sounds must needs be very loud indeed to penetrate to Madam's sanctuary, if care were taken to keep them from reaching her ears.
When Terry appeared as usual in her white frock, with her little blue silk work-bag, and with what Nurse Nancy called her "Mary" face, Granny said to herself that the child was a sweet little lady; but remarked that Terry looked pale.

Was her clothing warm enough?
Had she eaten a good dinner?
No, said Nancy, she hadn't eaten a good dinner, not to-day; but it was only once, and for a wonder.
"Wait till you see what a tea she'll make, madam.

Myself thinks children sometimes hides their appetites in their pockets and brings them out again when they get something they like." In this way good old Nancy told the truth and didn't tell the truth, all to save pain to Madam.