"I'm very lucky to be here at all," said Nesta. "For goodness' sake don't speak to me for a minute, until I have got back my breath. I have run all the way, and I am choking--oh, my heart will burst." "Lean against me," said Flossie. Nesta flung herself against her friend. Flossie was slender and dark, with very curly hair. Nesta was a large girl, built on a generous scale. When she flung herself now against poor Flossie, the latter almost staggered. "Oh, come," said Flossie, "not quite so violent as that. Here, let us flop down under this tree. You can take your breath and tell me what it is all about." "Oh, I can't," said Nesta, who was beginning to recover herself already. "We must be off as fast as possible. Oh, I have had a time of it coming to you. Goodness gracious me, whatever is that?" She pointed to the tea basket. "We're going to Norland's Cliff, you and I, to have tea all by ourselves. Isn't it prime? Isn't it golloptious?" said Flossie. "Flossie! Has your mother said you might?" "Yes, yes, of course, she has. I asked her this morning, and she said: `Certainly, dear.'" "But I thought there were donkey races there to-day." "There are; but I didn't say a word about that to mother. She never guessed. Luckily, father was out of the room. It will be much more fun going there to-day, for we'll see the races; that is if we are quick. But I'm sure, Nesta, I did think you'd come looking a little bit smart, and you've got your very oldest hat on too, and that dress." "Oh, if you're ashamed of me," began Nesta, tears springing to her blue eyes--they could always rise there at a moment's warning. "I didn't mean to hurt you, dear," said Flossie, who was really deeply attached to her friend; "but whatever is it?" "You must take me as I am, or I'll go home again if you like," said Nesta. "It would be much better for me to go home. I wouldn't get into quite such an awful row as I shall get into all for love of you, if I went home now. I'll go if you wish. I'll just be in time to escape the very worst of the fuss. What am I to do, dear?" "Never mind about your dress. I'd lend you something of mine, only you are twice as big." "Well, I'll carry this basket," said Nesta, picking up the tea basket. "Now, do let us go; I shan't have an easy moment until we are well out of sight of the house."