“She do look smart—quite the lady,” said the old woman, glancing at Piers as she spoke. Piers nodded. “She’s very handsome, and I love her,” he said. “Well, now, child, it surprises me to hear you talk. I never would have said Clara was handsome, though she is my own darter, but there’s no accounting for tastes. How close this room is! Now I’d like to go for a walk uncommon. Suppose you and me was to go out unbeknown to Clara?” “Might we?” said little Piers, his face coloring. “Might you? And what’s to hinder you if I say you may? We might go for a little stroll all by our two selves, mightn’t we?” “I’d love it better than anything,” said little Piers. “But perhaps Nurse Clara——” “Nurse Clara needn’t know, you little silly. Go and fetch your cap and we’ll be off.” Little Piers looked puzzled for a moment; then his face lit up and he ran eagerly into the bedroom. He soon came back. “I can’t find my cap,” he said. Mrs. Ives accompanied him into Clara’s bedroom. They searched high and low in vain. “What a pity!” she said. “And I thought I’d like a spell of the air. Well, you look here, little boy, we will go out presently when Clara comes in.” “And I could show you the house where I used to live; but oh, I forgot, I can’t—it would be telling my secret.” “So you have a secret, little un?” “Haven’t I just—such a big one!” “I wonder now, if I could guess it,” said Mrs. Ives in a thoughtful voice. Piers clapped his hands. “What fun if you did,” he cried. “Nurse wouldn’t mind if you guessed it—that wouldn’t be _me_ telling.” “Of course it wouldn’t. Well, now, let me see; you are high born?” Piers nodded. “Good, good,” he exclaimed. “And rich?” “Good again,” said Piers. “If I was to see that house where you lived I could tell a lot more. Showing me the house isn’t letting out the secret.” “Isn’t it? Perhaps not. I’d like to show you the house very much indeed.” “But perhaps you have forgotten what part of London it’s in?” “Not I—not I: it’s near Harley Street where that dreadful doctor lives—I hate that doctor, Mrs. Ives. Oh, I know quite well how to get there, and as you say, it wouldn’t be telling.” “Of course it wouldn’t; and it would be much nicer for you if I guessed your secret, for then we could talk it over together. I tell you what: let’s go out at once, without waiting for that cap of yours. We can buy a new one for sixpence at the first shop we come across.” They went. CHAPTER XIII. THE DIE CAST. Everything turned out according to Nurse Ives’ wishes. In a week’s time she and Dr. Tarbot were married by special license at St. James’s, Fore Street. Tarbot made a sullen bridegroom. Even during the ceremony he showed a morose face. Clara, on the contrary, looked animated, eager, excitedly happy.