Bobbie knew the secret now. A sheet of old newspaper wrapped round a parcel—just a little chance like that—had given the secret to her. And she had to go down to tea and pretend that there was nothing the matter. The pretence was bravely made, but it wasn't very successful.
For when she came in, every one looked up from its tea and saw her pink-lidded eyes and her pale face with red tear-blotches on it.
"My darling," cried Mother, jumping up from the tea-tray, "whatever is the matter?"
"My head aches, rather," said Bobbie. And indeed it did.
"Has anything gone wrong?" Mother asked.
"I'm all right, really,' said Bobbie, and she telegraphed to her Mother from her swollen eyes this brief, imploring message—"Not before the others!"
Tea was not a cheerful meal. Peter was so distressed by the obvious fact that something horrid had happened to Bobbie that he limited
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