nnies in this way when
she had any.

"If you do," continued Susan, getting more cross every moment, "you'll
be dreadfully greedy, and most likely you'll make yourself ill."

Sophia Jane only smiled gently and settled herself more comfortably in
her chair.

"And I suppose you remember," said Susan, whose voice became louder and
more defiant with each sentence, "that if you don't get the head you
can't have the bonnet."

The last word was almost shrieked, for she had now quite lost her
temper, and at this moment Margaretta looked into the room. Now it was
always taken for granted by the household that in any dispute Sophia
Jane must be in the wrong; so now Margaretta came at once to this
conclusion, in spite of Susan's hot and angry looks.

"How can you be so naughty, Sophia Jane," she said, "as to quarrel with
a sweet-tempered child like Susan? You must have been very unkind and
tiresome to vex her so much."

Neither of the little girls spoke, for Susan was still feeling too
angry, and Sophia Jane took a scolding as a matter of course.

"If you don't say you're sorry," pursued Margaretta, "I sha'n't take you
out with me this afternoon. I don't wish to have a sulky little girl
with me. Susan shall go alone."

There was no word from Sophia Jane, or even any sign of having heard
this speech. At another time Susan would have said something in her
defence, for she knew this blame to be entirely unjust. But just now
she was so vexed with her that she kept silence, and allowed Margaretta
to go on without interruption.

"Very well," said the latter, "then you stay at home by yourself. Aunt
and Nanna are going to see Mrs Bevis, and Susan and I shall have a walk
together. Very likely we should call in at Buzzard's as we come back
and have some tarts."

Susan glanced at her companion's face to see how she took this last
remark. Buzzard's open tarts were things that Sophia Jane specially
liked. Was she vexed? No. One corner of her mouth was tucked in, in a
way which looked far more like secret satisfaction. It was very
annoying, but after all she could not prefer to be left alone in the
dull house that bright day, so most likely she was concealing her
disappointment.

Susan herself did not enjoy that walk so much as usual, though the band
was playing gay tunes, and the sun shone, and the sea twinkled merrily.
For one thing she felt that she had been unjust to Sophia Jane, and
allowed her to be punished fo