"No, no, auntie. Oh, _please_ don't," whispered Carrots, his trouble increasing, and pulling hard at his aunt's sleeve as he spoke, "I _do_ like sugar werry much--it isn't that. But mamma said I was never, _never_ to take nucken that wasn't mine, and sugar won't be mine for two weeks more, nurse says." Auntie stared at her little nephew in blank bewilderment. What _did_ he mean? Even her quick wits were quite at fault. "What _do_ you mean, my dear little boy?" she said. Suddenly a new complication struck poor Carrots. "Oh!" he exclaimed, "it's a secret, it's a secret, and I'm telling it," and he burst into tears. It was impossible now to hide his trouble. Everybody began to cross-question him. "Cry-baby," muttered Maurice, and even Mrs. Desart said, "Carrots, I wonder at your behaving so when your aunt and cousin are here. Floss, do you know what is the matter with him?" "No, mamma," said Floss, looking as she always did when Carrots was in distress, ready to cry herself. "Carrots," said Captain Desart, sharply, "go to the nursery till you learn to behave properly." Carrots got slowly down off his high chair, and crept away. But everybody looked troubled and uncomfortable. Auntie hated to see people looking troubled and uncomfortable. She thought a minute, and then she turned to Mrs. Desart. "Lucy," she said, "will you let me try what I can do with the poor little fellow? I am sure it was not naughtiness made him cry." And almost before Mrs. Desart could reply, auntie was off to the nursery in search of Carrots. He had left off crying, and was sitting quietly by the window, looking out at his old friend the sea. "What are you thinking about, my poor old man?" said auntie, fondly. Carrots looked up at her. "I like you to call me that," he said. "I was thinking about our hoops and what a long time four weeks is." "Has that to do with you having no sugar?" asked auntie. [Illustration: "What are you thinking about, my poor old man?" said auntie, fondly. _To face page_ 148.] "Yes," said Carrots. "How _did_ you guess? You're like a fairy, auntie." But then his face grew troubled again. "I forgot," he went on, "it's a secret. It's Floss's secret too. I would so like to tell you, for I don't know what to do. I don't mind having no tea, but they all thought I was naughty." "Wait a minute," said auntie. She hurried out of the room, but was back in a minute. "I've asked Floss," she said, "and she gives you leave to tell me. So now, perhaps, when I know all about it, I can tell you what to do." The telling did not take Carrots long; he was so glad to show auntie he had not meant to be naughty. Auntie listened quite gravely, and when he had finished she said she thought he was quite right not to take any sugar. "But do you think Floss did?" said Carrots, anxiously.