She left the room, shutting the door noisily. “She’s very cross with you,” said little Piers. “But she’s not cross with me, and I love her awfully.” “I am glad of that, dear.” “I went with grannie this morning to look at my real home,” continued Piers. “I didn’t tell her which house it was, but I stared at it, and p’r’aps she saw the direction my eyes were looking in. I did so long to run across and ring the bell and rush up to mother and hug her, but I didn’t because I had promised you. Honor bright, you know, honor bright.” “Yes, honor bright, Piers,” said Mrs. Tarbot. Her brows were knit, and she was gazing anxiously across the little room. Her mind was full of perplexity and dread. “I want to see mother so dreadfully,” continued the child. “I dream of her at night, and I want to see Dick. It’s strange they don’t any of them write. When may I go back to them, nurse?” “Piers, I am sorry, but I must disappoint you. You’ll be a brave lad, I know.” “Yes, I’ll be brave, but what do you want to disappoint me about?” “I have some sad news for you.” “Sad?” “You cannot go back to your mother, Piers.” “Why?” “And you must not go into the street where she used to live; you must not stand any more outside the house.” “But why?” “Because your mother is not there.” “What do you mean?” “She has gone away for the present, and your Cousin Dick and your friend Barbara have also gone away. They will come back by and by—by and by when you are really cured—but it takes a long time to cure a little chap who has been as ill as you have been. You would not like to sink down through the floor any more, would you?” “Don’t you think you’re just a little bit of a humbug?” said Piers, gazing full into Mrs. Tarbot’s face. “Why do you talk in that way, just as if you had made it up, and why do you turn your eyes away? I don’t think mother can have gone away, and I’m sure Dick and Barbara must be here, because——” “Is it likely I’d tell you a lie, Piers?” “Well, of course I hope you wouldn’t, but I’m not sure. I suppose you wouldn’t, that is, if you are a good woman. Are you a good woman, nurse?” “No, child, no. Heaven help me, no, I’m not.” “Then perhaps you do tell lies. Of course, good women never do. God hates those who tell them, so you had better be careful. I never tell lies, and that’s why I keep my promise to you. I never tell grannie my secret.” “If you had done so, Piers, you would have been an awfully wicked little boy. You must never, never tell Mrs. Ives the truth.”