of the basket and took out a gold thimble with a sapphire top and
turquoises round the rim. She slipped it on to the tip of her slender
first finger.

"I must send it back again," she said to herself. "I'd have done it
before, but Pauline is away."

Just then she was attracted by a sound on the sofa. She turned. Pen's big
black eyes were wide open; she was bending forward and gazing at the
thimble.

"So you got it after all!" she said.

"Oh, child, how you startled me! What do you mean?"

"Why, that's Aunty Sophy's thimble. I was to get a penny if I found it."

Nancy was silent.

"How did it get into your work-basket?" asked Pen.

"I borrowed it from Paulie, and I'd have given it to her long ere this,
but I heard she was away."

"Give it to me," cried Penelope. Her voice quite shook in her eagerness.
"Give it to me at once, and I will take it back to her."

"I wish you would, Pen, I am sure; but you must be very careful not to
lose it, for it is a real beauty. See, I will put it into this little
box, and cover the box up."

Penelope pressed close to Nancy. Nancy placed the thimble in the midst of
some pink cotton-wool and looked at it affectionately; then she tied up
the little box, put brown paper round it, tied string round that again,
and then she held it out to Pen.

"You are quite positive you won't lose it?" she said.

"Positive. I has a big pocket, and no hole in it. See for yourself,
there's no hole. Turn it out, will you?"

Penelope's pocket proved to be quite safe, and Nancy, with a qualm at her
heart which she could not account for, allowed the little girl to put the
thimble therein.

"Well, that is settled," she cried. "And now I want to know what you came
for. You are going to have dinner with father and me after a bit."

"No, I'm not," answered Pen. "I'm going home at once."

"But why did you come? Did Pauline send me a message?"

"No, she wouldn't."

"Why not? I've done a great deal for her."

"She's ongrateful," said Pen. "She didn't send no message. I 'spect
she'll have forgot you when she comes back."

Nancy's face flamed.

"I can make it a little too hot for her if she does."

"What's making a thing too hot?" asked Penelope.

"Oh, making it so that you squirm and tingle and your heart goes
pit-a-pat," replied Nancy. "There! I'm not going to talk any more. If you
won't tell me why you came, I suppose you will come into the other room
and have some dinner?"

"I won't. I