Nelly was just conscious of an unusual bustle in the passage outside, and of hearing voices and footsteps going up to the third story; but, too sleepy to pay attention, she soon ceased to hear anything.

When she awoke the morning was far advanced, and her grandmamma was not in the room.  While she lay thinking over the strange events of the day before, Maum Winnie appeared with some fresh, clean clothes upon her arm.

“Mornin’, little missy,” said she, pleasantly; “is you gwine ter sleep all day?”

Nelly sprang up and was soon dressed.  Running into her mamma’s room, she found it all in order, the sweet wind and the morning sun coming in freely through the open windows.  Mrs. Grey, however, was not there; nor did she find her in the breakfast-room, where only grandmamma sat waiting to give the child her breakfast.  Upon the sideboard stood a tray which had contained breakfast for somebody; Nelly wondered who, and suddenly asked,—­

“Is mamma sick?”

“No, she is quite well now,” was the reply.

“Well, did she eat breakfast with you?”

“Yes.”

The child again glanced toward the sideboard, and at last asked plainly,—­

“Whose breakfast is that yonder, and who did you all send supper to last night?”

“Nelly,” said her grandmamma, sharply, “eat your breakfast, and ask no more questions.  Little girls should be seen and not heard.”

The child obeyed, but remained curious, and determined to find out the mystery, if she could.  Soon her mother came in, kissed her affectionately, and stood for a few moments by her chair, smoothing back her curls just as she used to do.  Nelly thought gladly of the happy day she would spend at her mother’s side, but Mrs. Grey disappointed her by saying,—­

“My daughter, you must play as quietly as possible to-day, and don’t run or romp near the house.  I am far from well, and very nervous.”

The little girl, however, drew her mother out of the room upon the vine-shaded gallery, where they walked up and down for a few moments.  But Mrs. Grey still seemed ill at ease, and soon returned within the house.  Then Nelly ran down the steps and across the lawn in search of her old playmates, the kittens and the puppy, visited the garden and summer-house, where she occupied herself in arranging a bouquet for her mamma.  At last it seemed to her that it must be nearly twelve o’clock; so returning to the house, and finding the lower rooms deserted, she wandered into the kitchen, where she found Maum Winnie broiling some birds and preparing some nice toast, while near by upon the kitchen-table was a waiter ready to carry up the delicate lunch to somebody.  Nelly at once began,—­

“Oh, Maum Winnie, who are those birds for?  Where is the cook?  What are you in the kitchen cooking for?”

Winnie seemed wonderfully flurried and confused by all these questions, and Nelly was equally disconcerted at finding the old woman so cross.