She would start at once, as soon as she had satisfied Nurse by appearing for milk and biscuits.... She and the twins were accustomed to wander, within limits, as they pleased.... She would be over the hill and away by the time Nurse was repacking the perambulator, and when she was missed, who would guess where she had gone?... At least, she was not so sure of that.... It was very strange that Nurse and Aunt Adela had never said a word about heaven being so close to Brackenhurst.... It looked as if they were afraid of her finding out ... as if they didn’t want her to see Mother.... She clenched her fist. If they tried to stop her now!... They had better not try, that was all! But she would not give them a chance.... She would not let them guess that she knew anything.... She, too, could pretend ignorance, even if she had to tell a story over it.... Mother couldn’t bear you to tell stories—but this was different.... She would explain it all to Mother, and of course Mother would understand.... Oh, the blessedness of being back with Mother who always understood! She was so absorbed in her meditations that the nursemaid could approach unheard. “Miss Laura, are you deaf? ’Ere I’ve calling till I’m ’oarse. Come along, do, you naughty child, an’ ’ave your biscuits. It’s eleven or more—you won’t eat no lunch if you leave ’em so late. Come along. What are you staring at?” Laura’s eyes were as blank as a cat’s. She waved her hand airily as she scrambled to her feet. “That over there. What’s that—that shining house, Nurse?” “Green’ouse, I expect.” Nurse screwed up her eyes and followed the direction of Laura’s grubby finger. “Oh, that! That’s the Crystal Pallis. It stands very ’igh, you know. As ’igh as us, almost. Miss Laura, on’y look at your ’ands. Reely! A terrier’d ’ave more sense. If Miss Adela meets us——” The Crystal Palace! As beautiful a name as any other for a _Cœlestial City_.... “Have you seen it before, Nurse?” “Lord, yes—any fine day. Must ’ave a fine day, of course. I wonder I ’aven’t shown it you. I come at night once with my friend to see the fireworks. My friend, ’e——” Laura broke in. She knew all about Nurse’s friend. “Please to remember—Fifth of November?” She was puzzled. “Not only then. Any night. Lights up all the sky—blues and reds, like joolry. Lovely. I’d like to see it close to.” “Why—may any one go there?” asked Laura casually as they walked towards the beeches. But her indifference was the quivering indifference of a well-trained dog on trust before a lump of sugar. “Lord, yes! Mother went once.” “Your mother? Your mother too? Did she?” “Yes. She went once. Brock’s Benefit. Fine time she ’ad too. Come along, Miss Laura.” She took her by her unwilling hand. “You can look at it after. It won’t run away.” “Was it——What was it like, Nurse?” “Well—it’s all glass, you know.” “Yes, I know,” said Laura. “_Like pure gold_——Many gates?” “Oh, I dunno——” “Twelve, should you think?”