mrs. darling loved to have everything just so, and mr. darling had a passion for being exactly like his neighbours; so, of course, they had a nurse. as they were poor, owing to the amount of milk the children drank, this nurse was a prim newfoundland dog, called nana, who had belonged to no one in particular until the darlings engaged her. she had always thought children important, however, and the darlings had become acquainted with her in kensington gardens, where she spent most of her spare time peeping into perambulators, and was much hated by careless nursemaids, whom she followed to their homes and complained of to their mistresses. she proved to be quite a treasure of a nurse. how thorough she was at bath-time, and up at any moment of the night if one of her charges made the slightest cry. of course her kennel was in the nursery.