Tony, his hands held fast, wriggled, rubbed his shoulder against his ear, and for all answer laughed in a childish, silly way. Such is the depth and secretiveness of children, whom we call transparent. "Did you think Mummy was dead?" "What's 'dead'?" asked Tony, with interest, putting off his mask of inanity. "People are dead when they've gone to sleep and will never wake again," returned Tims. Tony thought a minute; then his dark eyes grew very large. He whispered slowly, as though with difficulty formulating his ideas: "Doesn't they _never_ wake? Doesn't they wake up after ever so long, when peoples can't remember everything--and it makes them want to cry, only grown-up people aren't 'lowed?" Tims was puzzled. But even in her bewilderment it occurred to her that if poor Milly should return, she would be distressed to find in what a slovenly manner Tony was allowed to express himself. "I don't know what you mean, Tony. Say it again and put it more clearly." Tims had around her neck a necklace composed of casts of coins in the British Museum. She did not usually wear ornaments, because she possessed none, except a hair-bracelet, two brooches, and a large gold cross which had belonged to her late aunt. Tony's soft, slender fingers went to the necklace, and ignoring her question, he asked: "Why have you got these funny things round your neck, Auntie Tims?" "They're not funny. They're beautiful--copies of money which the old Greeks used to use. A gentleman gave it to me." Tims spoke with a grand carelessness. "I dare say if you're a good boy he'll tell you stories about them himself some day. But I want you to explain what it was you meant to say about dead people. Dead people don't come back, you know." Tony touched her hand, which lay open on her knee, and played with the fingers a minute. Then raising his eyes he said, plaintively: "I do so want my tea." Once more he had wiped the conversational slate, and the baffled Tims dismissed him. He opened the door a little and slipped out; put his dark head in again with an engaging smile, said politely, "I sha'n't be away _very_ long," and closed the door softly behind him. For that soft closing of the door was one of the things poor Milly had taught him which the little 'peoples' did contrive to remember. The sleeper now began to stir slightly in her sleep, and before Tony's somewhat prolonged tea was over, she sat up and looked about her. "Is that Tims?" she asked, in a colorless voice. "Yes--is it you, Milly?" "No. What makes you think so?" "Milly's been trying to come back. I suppose she couldn't manage it." "Ah!"--there was a deep satisfaction in Mildred's tone now; "I thought she couldn't!" CHAPTER XXVII