than
naughty. What she has done I don't know, and I don't know what the others
have done; but there is a weight on their minds, and those four girls
must be got to confess. And you must be present, and you must speak as a
father to them. Now do you understand?"

"I am to be in the schoolroom to-morrow," said Mr. Dale, "and four of my
girls are turning wicked, and I am not to know what they have done. I
will be in the schoolroom at nine o'clock to-morrow, Sophia. May I thank
you to hand me back my blotting-pad, my pen and bottle of ink, and my
beloved Homer? Take care of the volume. Take it tenderly. Put both hands
under the binding. Ah! that is so. You will have the goodness to leave me
now, Sophia. To-morrow morning at nine o'clock precisely."

Miss Tredgold went out of the room.

"How my poor dear sister ever brought herself to marry that man," she
whispered under her breath, "I know not. But he is capable of being
roused, and I rather fancy I shall manage to rouse him to-morrow."

CHAPTER XXVII.

PAULINE IN DISTRESS.

When Pauline went up to her room late that evening she gave Verena a very
cold good-night. Her little fire was still burning, for nurse had taken
care of it. Verena heard her lock the door. Had she not done so her
sister would have gone to her, and begged and prayed, as such a sweet
girl might, for the confidence of Pauline. Verena had to get into bed
feeling lonely and unhappy. Just as she was doing so she heard a firm
step walking down the corridor. A hand turned the handle of Pauline's
door, and Verena heard Pen's voice say:

"It's me, Paulie. It's me. Let me in, Paulie."

Verena instantly opened her own door.

"Go away, Pen," she said. "Go straight back to your bed. You are not to
go near Pauline to-night."

"Yes, but I want her," said Pauline, opening the door and putting out her
head.

"Very well," said Verena. "You shall see her with me. I will ring the
bell and ask nurse to fetch Aunt Sophy."

Pauline gave a shrill laugh.

"It isn't worth all that fuss. Go to bed, Pen. We shall have plenty of
time for our chat to-morrow morning."

Penelope looked disgusted. Verena stood in the passage until her stout
little figure had disappeared. She then turned, hoping that Pauline would
speak to her; but Pauline had gone into her room and locked the door.

Now, Pauline Dale was at this time going through a curious phase. She was
scarcely to be blamed for her conduct, for what she h