They were her playmates, these innocents of her fancy, the long day through.

At evening in her prayers she called them home, and they came reluctant-- No, no, let us play, for it is yet day And we cannot go to sleep; Besides, in the sky the little birds fly And the hills are all covered with sheep.
The tunnel was populous with them as she passed through it from the garden to the ambulatory, and at the end of the tunnel she came plump upon Branny and Uncle Copas in converse.

They started guiltily.
"I've been looking for you this half-hour," said Brother Copas, recovering himself.

"Didn't a certain small missy make an appointment with me to be shown the laundry and its wonders?
And isn't this Tuesday--ironing day ?" "You promised to show it to me _some time_," answered Corona, who was punctilious in small matters; "but you never fixed any time in p'tic'lar." "Oh, then I must have made the appointment with myself! Never mind; come along now, if you can spare the time." Nurse Branscome nodded and left them, turning in at the stairway which led to her quarters in the Nunnery.

At the foot of it she paused to call after them-- "Mind, Corona is not to be late for her tea! I've invited myself this evening, and there is to be a plum cake in honour of the occasion." Brother Copas and Corona passed down the ambulatory and by the porter's lodge to the outer court.