she liked; she would also talk to whom she liked.

She stood for a time leaning against a tree, her face scarlet with
emotion, her sailor hat flung on the ground. Presently she saw Penelope
coming towards her. She felt quite glad of this, for Penelope might
always be bribed. Pauline made up her mind to disobey thoroughly; she
would walk where she pleased; she would do what she liked; she would talk
to any one to whom she wished to talk. What was Penelope doing? She was
bending down and peering on the ground. Beyond doubt she was looking for
something.

"What is it, Pen?" called out her sister.

Penelope had not seen Pauline until now. She stood upright with a start,
gazed tranquilly at the girl in disgrace, and then, without uttering a
word, resumed her occupation of searching diligently on the ground.
Pauline's face put on its darkest scowl. Her heart gave a thump of wild
indignation. She went up to Penelope and shook her by the arm. Penelope,
still without speaking, managed to extricate herself. She moved a few
feet away. She then again looked full at Pauline, and, to the amazement
of the elder girl, her bold black eyes filled with tears. She took one
dirty, chubby hand and blew a kiss to Pauline.

Pauline felt suddenly deeply touched. She very nearly wept herself.

"Oh, dear Penny," she said, "how good you are! I didn't know you'd feel
for me. I can bear things better if I know you feel for me. You needn't
obey her, need you? See, I've got three-ha'pence in my pocket. I'll give
you the money and you can buy lollypops. I will really if only you will
say a few words to me now."

"I daren't," burst from Penelope's lips. "You have no right to tempt me.
I can't; I daren't. I am looking now for Aunt Sophy's thimble. She was
working here yesterday and she dropped it, she doesn't know where. She's
awful fond of it. She'll give me a penny if I find it. Don't ask me any
more. I've done very wrong to speak to you."

"So you have," said Pauline, who felt as angry as ever. "You have broken
Aunt Sophia's word--not your own, for you never said you wouldn't speak
to me. But go, if you are so honorable. Only please understand that I
hate every one of you, and I'm never going to obey Aunt Sophia."

Penelope only shook her little person, and presently wandered away into a
more distant part of the shrubbery. She went on searching and searching.
Pauline could see her bobbing her little fat person up and down.

"Even Penny," sh