However, when they arrived at No. 2 Heather Road, the housekeeper, who had evidently been on the watch for them, came into the hall to welcome them, and, taking their umbrellas, said, 'It's cold, this nasty wet day, my bairns; come into the sitting-room and warm yourselves by the fire. I've the kettle boiling and some hot scones, if you'd care to have some tea.' 'Oh nursie, you just are the dearest darling in the world; we haven't had any afternoon tea. These new people are not as thoughtful as Mr. James Jones was!' exclaimed Vava. 'It is not really a necessity; we could very well wait till dinner-time,' observed Stella. 'But I must say I shall be very glad of a cup to-day; it has been such a long day.' Mrs. Morrison looked at the weary young face from under her glasses with her shrewd eyes, but said nothing, and only drew the little table near the fire, took away the wet shoes, and went off to get tea. 'Nursie is a very comforting person, Stella, isn't she?' said Vava, as she held out her cold hands to the cheerful blaze. 'She spoils us all. By the way, I wonder where Amy and Eva are; it is time for them to be home, and nursie has only brought in two cups,' replied her sister. The housekeeper coming in with the teapot at that instant overheard the last few words. 'The other two young leddies will be having their tea upstairs,' she remarked in answer to Stella. 'Are they in?' asked Vava, helping herself to a hot buttered scone. 'Yes, they are in,' replied Mrs. Morrison. 'What's the matter? Did they get drenched? Why are they having tea upstairs?' the girl continued. 'They wished to have it there, so I took it up,' observed the housekeeper. 'But I don't think you ought to spoil them like that. Why could they not come down and have tea with us here, instead of giving you the trouble of carrying it up to them?' remonstrated Stella, who resented the two English girls making the housekeeper run up and down stairs for them. 'I'm none so old as all that, and I have not much to do while you are out all day,' declared Mrs. Morrison, putting down the scones on the tripod in front of the fire and going out of the room. 'All the same, I call it rather cool of them making nursie run up and down stairs for them,' objected Vava. 'I expect they were wet through and had to change, and that nursie took the tea up without being asked,' suggested Stella. 'They'd be much more comfortable down here by the fire, I should think, than in their cold rooms,' observed Vava. 'Perhaps they have gone to bed,' said Stella. Vava listened for a moment. 'No, they haven't; I can hear them moving above us, and--they have a fire in Amy's room; I can hear them poking it! What extravagance!' she continued.