Sophia Jane, who seemed a very naughty little girl and certainly
did not deserve to be helped. She had thought of offering to give her
something towards the doll's head, but now she did not quite know whet
to do.

"Well," she said patronisingly, "if you want to buy the new head you'll
have to be good, you know; and then you'll save your money."

"Fiddle-di-dee!" was Sophia Jane's rude reply, tauntingly. This might
have led to a quarrel, for Susan, much shocked, was just preparing a
reproachful speech, but fortunately the voice of Nanna was heard calling
them down to dinner. During this both the little girls were silent and
subdued, and were seldom spoken to, except that Sophia Jane was
repeatedly corrected. It was wonderful how often she was told not to
fidget, not to eat so fast, not to shrug her shoulders, not to make
faces. As surely as anyone looked in her direction there was something
wrong. It did not seem to make much impression on her, although her
thin little face looked very sullen; and once when Nanna called Susan
"darling" a dark frown gathered on her brow.

"Unless you can look more pleasant and aimiable, Sophia Jane," said Aunt
Hannah, observing this, "you will be left at home this afternoon."

All this strengthened Susan's opinion that Sophia Jane was a very
naughty little girl. If it were not so they would not surely speak to
her so sharply and reprove her so often. She hoped, nevertheless, that
this last threat would not be carried out, for however naughty she might
be she was a companion with whom conversation was possible, and a walk
alone with Nanna and Margaretta would be dull. She was relieved,
therefore, at three o'clock to find that Sophia Jane was ready to go
too, dressed in a very unbecoming poke bonnet and black cape. They
might be out one hour and a half, Aunt Hannah said, but there was a
little delay at starting because each of the elder girls wished to go in
a different direction. Nanna preferred the town, and Margaretta to walk
on the parade, and it was some minutes before it was settled that they
should go one way and return the other, dividing the time equally.

"Which way do you like best?" inquired Susan as she and Sophia Jane
followed closely behind their companions.

"Neither of 'em," answered she. "I like to go on the beach and pick up
things, but they won't ever do that except in summer when they bathe."

Neither of the little girls cared much about the walk in th