ost screamed Diana,
tightening her arms round her sister's neck.

"Please let me stay here," said Iris. "I do not really want any
supper, and I know how to manage her. She has gone through a great
deal."

"Well, miss, do you dare?"

"Oh, I dare anything! I am quite positive certain Aunt Jane won't mind
when I tell her my own self what I have done."

"I will tell mamma; she shan't mind," said little Ann suddenly.

Iris looked up at her and smiled--Ann smiled back at her. The hearts
of the two little cousins were knit together in real love from that
moment.

The gong sounded again downstairs, and this time in a distinctly angry
manner. The three Dolman girls and the two Delaney boys had to hurry
off as fast as they could, and then Iris undressed Diana and put her
into her snug little white bed.

"I is drefful unhappy, Iris," said Diana, as she laid her head on her
pillow.

"But you won't be in the morning, Diana. You'll feel brave and strong
and bright in the morning, just like the dear name mother gave you."

"Oh, p'ease, p'ease, will you see that the spiders and beetles has
somethin' to eat? They is so far from home, poor darlin's, and they
has come a drefful long journey, and they may be deaded in the morning
if nothing's not done for 'em. P'ease see to 'em; won't you, Iris?"

"Yes," replied Iris.

"Very well. Now, I'll say my pwayers and go stwaight off to s'eep.
P'ease, God, b'ess Di, make her good girl. Amen. Good-night, Iris."

The next moment the little girl had gone away into the world of happy
slumber and innocent dreams. She knew nothing whatever about what poor
Iris, to her dismay, soon discovered, namely, that Simpson had marched
off with the box which contained the spiders and beetles. That box,
with its contents, was never found again. It was the straw too much,
as Simpson expressed it afterwards.

CHAPTER IX.

THE PUNISHMENT CHAMBER.

The next morning matters began by being a little better, and might
have gone on being so but for Diana. The four little Delaneys had
slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly,
and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all
the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with
one another. It did not seem so very dreadful to Iris and Apollo to
have cousins to walk about with and talk to. Philip and Conrad, too,
were fairly kind to little Orion; they took him round to see their
garden