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 . 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 . '' Maimie 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 . Tony could always outdistance her easily , but never had she known him speed away so quickly as now , and she was sure he hurried that he might have more time to hide . `` Brave , brave ! ''
her doting eyes were crying when she got a dreadful shock ; instead of hiding , her hero had run out at the XXXXX !
Poor ball fairies gate hand hers one t to-day top