And Philip travelled on a very hot afternoon by strange trains and a strange carriage to a strange house, where he was welcomed by a strange nurse and--Lucy.
'You won't mind going to stay at Peter's beautiful house without me, will you, dear ?' Helen had asked.

'Every one will be kind to you, and you'll have Lucy to play with.' And Philip said he didn't mind.

What else could he say, without being naughty and making Helen cry again?
Lucy was not a bit like the Sugar-Bread child.

She had fair hair, it is true, and it was plaited in two braids, but they were very long and straight; she herself was long and lean and had a freckled face and bright, jolly eyes.
'I'm so glad you've come,' she said, meeting him on the steps of the most beautiful house he had ever seen; 'we can play all sort of things now that you can't play when you're only one.

I'm an only child,' she added, with a sort of melancholy pride.