and then he could always say for certain that it would not be to-day . So she saw that he was waiting for a real good chance . This brings us to an afternoon when the Gardens were white with snow , and there was ice on the Round Pond ; not thick enough to skate on , but at least you could spoil it for to-morrow by flinging stones , and many bright little boys and girls were doing that . When Tony and his sister arrived they wanted to go straight to the pond , but their ayah said they must take a sharp walk first , and as she said this she glanced at the time-board to see when the Gardens closed that night . It read half-past five . Poor ayah ! she is the one who laughs continuously because there are so many white children in the world , but she was not to laugh much more that day . Well , they went up the Baby Walk and back , and when they returned to the time-board she was surprised to see that it now read five o'clock for closing-time . But she was unacquainted with the tricky ways of the fairies , and so did not see -LRB- as Maimie and Tony saw at once -RRB- that they had changed the hour because there was to be a ball to-night . She said there was only time now to walk to the top of the Hump and back , and as they trotted along with her she little guessed what was thrilling their little breasts . You see the chance had come of seeing a fairy ball . Never , Tony felt , could he hope for a better chance . -LSB- Illustration : One day they were overheard by a fairy -RSB- He had to feel this , for Maimie so plainly felt it for him . Her eager eyes asked the question , ` Is it to-day ? ' and he gasped and then nodded . Maimie slipped her hand into Tony 's , and hers was hot , but his was cold . She did a very kind thing ; she took off her scarf and gave it to him . ` In case you should feel cold , ' she whispered . Her face was aglow , but Tony 's was very gloomy . As they turned on the top of the Hump he whispered to her , ` I 'm afraid nurse would see me , so I sha n't be able to do it . '
XXXXX admired him more than ever for being afraid of nothing but their ayah , when there were so many unknown terrors to fear , and she said aloud , ` Tony , I shall race you to the gate , ' and in a whisper , ` Then you can hide , ' and off they ran .
Gardens Maimie Tony Walk afternoon ayah day night time-board to-night