Sir Edward twisted the ends of his moustache slowly.  “I think you were naughty to run after a strange man like that, and I quite understand nurse’s displeasure.  You made her exceedingly anxious.”

“And is God very angry with me?”

“God is not pleased with disobedient children.”

“May I kneel down and ask him to forgive me now?”

Sir Edward hesitated.  “I think you had better go to the nursery and do it there.”

“I don’t want to see nurse till I have done it.  May I?  Will you ask God to forgive me too?”

“Your prayer will be quite sufficient.”

Milly slipped off his knee, and then, kneeling down with folded hands and closed eyes, she said softly,—­

“Please God, will you forgive me!  I’m so sorry I disobeyed nurse and ran away.  And please take care of Jack, and bring him back to you, for Jesus Christ’s sake.  Amen.”

“Now run along to nurse, and don’t cry any more,” said Sir Edward, as he rose from his seat.

Milly looked back wistfully as she reached the door.

“Do you think nurse is still angry?”

“Tell nurse from me that she is not to scold you any more.  The loss of your money ought to be a lesson to you.”

“But I didn’t lose it, uncle.  I lent it to Jack.  He wouldn’t let me give it to him; he said he would send it back to me in a letter.”

Sir Edward laughed unbelievingly, and Milly trotted upstairs to be received with open arms by nurse at the nursery door.

“There! never mind, my dear.  I have been very angry with you, but you’ll never do such a thing again.  Come and have your tea.  I’ve had a cup already, and feel wonderful better.  Now, don’t cry any more; bless your little heart, I can’t bear to see you in tears.”

With that nurse took her up in her arms; and poor tired little Milly whispered, as she clung to her,—­

“I was afraid you would never love me again.  I’ve told God I’m sorry; do you quite forgive me?”

“Quite, my lamb,” was the reply; “and as to loving you, I shouldn’t give over doing that if you were twice as troublesome.”

CHAPTER VI.

A PROMISE KEPT.

About a fortnight later Sir Edward, who always opened the post-bag himself, found there a letter addressed to his little niece, and sent a message to the nursery to tell her to come down to him.  She arrived very surprised at the summons, as Sir Edward always wished to be left undisturbed at his breakfast, but when she saw the letters on the table she cried out joyously,—­

“Good morning, Uncle Edward.  I know there’s a letter from Jack for me, isn’t there?  I’ve been waiting for it every day.”

“I think there may be, judging from the writing on the envelope.  Come here and open it.”

Milly took the letter, and her little fingers fairly trembled with excitement as she opened it, saying softly to herself as she did so,—­