"Yes; and I'm as sorry as I can be about that burn; but if you'll be
brave and plucky now, I'll help you all I can. We'll get up as soon as
ever the day dawns, and cook shall put your arm straight."

As Nancy uttered the last words her voice dwindled to a whisper, and a
minute later she was again sound asleep. But Pauline could not sleep. Her
pain was too great. The summer light stole in by degrees, and by-and-by
the sharp noise made by a shower of gravel was heard on the window.

Pauline sprang into a sitting posture, and Nancy rubbed her eyes.

"I'm dead with sleep," she said. "I could almost wish I hadn't brought
you. Not but that I'm fond of you, as I think I've proved. We haven't yet
made all our arrangements about the midnight picnic, but I have the most
daring scheme in my head. You are every single one of you--bar Penelope,
whom I can't bear--to come to that picnic. I'll make my final plans
to-day, and I'll walk in the Forest to-morrow at six o'clock, just
outside your wicket-gate. You will meet me, won't you?"

"But---- Oh! by the way, Nancy, please give me back that beautiful
thimble. I'm so glad I remembered it! It belongs to Aunt Sophia."

"I can't," said Nancy, coloring, "I lent it to Becky, and I don't know
where she has put it. I'll bring it with me to-morrow, so don't fuss. Now
jump up, Paulie; we have no time to lose."

Accordingly Pauline got up, dressed herself--very awkwardly, it is
true--and went downstairs, leaning on Nancy's sympathetic arm. Nancy
consulted the cook, who was good-natured and red-faced.

"You have got a bad burn, miss," she said when she had examined Pauline's
arm; "but I have got a famous plaster that heals up burns like anything.
I'll make your arm quite comfortable in a twinkling, miss."

This she proceeded to do, and before the treatment had been applied for
half an hour a good deal of Pauline's acute pain had vanished.

"I feel better," she said, turning to Nancy. "I feel stronger and
braver."

"You will feel still braver when you have had your cup of tea. And here's
a nice hunch of cake. Put it into your pocket if you can't eat it now. We
had best be going; the farm people may be about, and there's no
saying--it's wonderful how secrets get into the air."

Pauline looked startled. She again took Nancy's hand, and they left the
house together.

Now, it so happened that the the morning was by no means as fine as those
lovely mornings that had preceded it. There was