All the other rooms were occupied, for there were two smart maids in the kitchen who were beginning to cook the dinner; then in the dining-room there was a “mamma” sitting on the blue sofa, gazing at the bowl of gold-fish. In the nursery, the three children were already put to bed, and the poor, tired nurse rested by the bright coal-scuttle on the floor. In the drawing-room, two gay dolls in ball-dresses sat by the piano; but there was no one for the spare room!

 

“It seems a great pity,” said Mamma, “because you put all the nicest things in this room, Effie—the wax candles, the pretty box of chocolates, the lace² curtains to the bed, and the dumb-bells; we must try and think of someone to come and stay here.”

 

“Mamma, do you think Rosie would lend me one of her dolls?” suggested Effie.

 

“Supposing you write and ask her,” said Mamma.

 

Effie seemed to think this a good idea, but then she would have to wait a few days, because her friend was away, staying at a farmhouse³.

 

“Shall we put the china baby in,” said Mamma, “or is he quite one of the family?”

 

“Oh, Mummy, he’s the youngest child of all!” replied Effie, shaking her head.

 

“I am afraid he is too much of a baby,” said Mamma, looking into the spare room, “and he might get into the shower-bath or open the door of the bird-cage—perhaps it would be unsafe.”

 

Effie nodded.

 

“We will write to Rosie, then,” said Mamma encouragingly.

 

That night, when Effie was fast asleep, a little grey mouse peeped through a crack in the nursery floor, and seeing that the room was empty, she hurried into every corner to find some chance crumb⁴ of cake or bread, but alas⁵ for her! the room had been too carefully swept, so the hungry little mouse could find nothing for her supper.

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