tell you what--we will have it; and
we'll have it on your birthday. Your birthday is in a week. That will be
just splendid. The moon will be at the full, and you must all of you
come. Do you suppose I'm going to be balked of my fun by a stupid old
woman? Ah! you little know me. My boy cousins, Jack and Tom, and my
friends, Becky and Amy, have made all arrangements. We are going to have
a time! Of course, if you are not there, you don't suppose our fun will
be stopped! You'll hear us laughing in the glades. You won't like that,
will you? But we needn't say any more until seven o'clock to-night."

"I don't think I'm coming."

"But you are, Paulie. No one will know, and you must have a bit of fun.
Perhaps I'll show you the present I'm going to give you on your birthday;
there's no saying what I may do; only you must come."

Nancy had been standing all this time. Pauline had been reclining on the
ground. Now she also rose to her feet.

"You excite me," she said. "I long to go, and yet I am afraid; it would
be so awfully wicked."

"It would be wicked if she was your mother, but she's not. And she has no
right to have any control over you. She just got round your silly old
father----"

"I won't have dad called silly!"

"Well, your learned and abstracted father. It all comes to much the same.
Now think the matter over. You needn't decide just this minute. I shall
come to the wicket-gate at half-past seven, and if you like to meet me,
why, you can; but if you are still too good, and your conscience is too
troublesome, and your scruples too keen, you need not come. I shall quite
understand. In that case, perhaps, I'd best not give you that lovely,
lovely present that I saved up so much money to buy."

Pauline clasped her hands and stepped away from Nancy. As she did so the
breeze caught her full gray skirt and caused it to blow against Nancy.
Nancy stretched out her hand and caught hold of Pauline's pocket.

"What is this hard thing?" she cried. "Have you got a nut in your
pocket?"

"No," said Pauline, instantly smiling and dimpling. "Oh, Nancy, such
fun!"

She dived into her pocket and produced Miss Tredgold's thimble.

"Oh, I say!" cried Nancy. "What a beauty! Who in the world gave you this
treasure, Paulie?"

"It isn't mine at all; it belongs to Aunt Sophia."

"You sly little thing! You took it from her?"

"No, I didn't. I'm not a thief. I saw it in the grass a few minutes ago
and picked it up. It had rolle