I was rebellious, and I did wrong, and----"

"My darling," interrupted Miss Tredgold, "we know the whole story. We
only want you to confess that you did wrong, and then never, never to
allude to it again; for I see, Pauline, by your eyes that you mean to do
right now."

"I will obey you because I love you," said Pauline.

"There, madam! I think she is pretty well restored," cried the farmer.
"And she is the best young lady in the world. Nancy and I have brought
her home, and now, with your permission, madam, we will take our leave."

"Nothing of the sort!" cried Miss Tredgold. "If you did wrong, Pauline, I
was by no means altogether in the right. I little knew when I told you,
my dears, to have nothing more to do with Farmer King and his daughter,
that I was preventing your enjoying the society of a gentleman. Please
shake hands with me, Mr. King."

Farmer King's face was quite pale with emotion.

"I admire you; I thank you," said Miss Tredgold. "You are a man in a
thousand;" and again she held out her hand.

This time Farmer King wrung it. But he was absolutely speechless; not a
single word passed his lips.

"Nancy," said Miss Tredgold, "I revoke what I said. You must come and see
my girls whenever you like."

"On condition, madam," said the farmer, "that the young ladies sometimes
come to see Nancy and me."

"Certainly," said Miss Tredgold; "but I also must put in a condition."

"What is that, madam?"

"That I occasionally accompany them."

But at this the farmer gave such a cheer of hearty goodwill that all the
children joined in in spite of themselves.

"Was there ever anything quite so jolly in all the world?" cried Pauline.
"I feel younger than ever, and jollier than ever. Here comes father, too.
We are all together. Father, I am back again, and it is all owing to
Farmer King and Nancy that I am cured. Whom shall we cry three cheers
for? You give the word."

"Aunt Sophy, of course," cried Verena.

"Hip! hip! hurrah!" shouted the Dale family.

"And I should like to suggest a hearty cheer for my good old friend,
Farmer King," said Mr. Dale.

"And for his cure," said Pauline.

And then the Dale family and the King family joined hands and shouted
"Hip! hip! hurrah!" once more.

THE END.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Girls of the Forest, by L. T. Meade

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