We call her Keturah," said Miss Unity smiling kindly. "She is a very
good little girl. Keturah, this is the young lady who made you all
these nice clothes. You must say `thank you' to her."

Pennie hung shyly back. She did not want to be thanked, and she was
quite afraid of Kettles now that she was so neat and clean.

"Do you like them?" she murmured.

Keturah chuckled faintly. "They're fine," she said. "I've got 'em all
on. I don't never feel cold now."

"And," continued Miss Unity, "this other young lady, whom I think you
saw once at Mrs Margetts', has been kind enough to think of bringing
you some nice warm boots and stockings."

She looked at Nancy as she spoke, but for once Nancy remained in the
background, clutching her parcel and staring at Kettles over Pennie's
shoulder. The old Kettles, who had been in her mind all this time, was
gone, and Keturah, clean, tidy, and proper, stood in her place. It was
too surprising a change to be understood in a moment, and Nancy was not
at all sure that she liked it.

Kettles was silent when the parcel was at length opened and presented,
perhaps with excess of joy.

"Well I never!" said Betty, advancing to examine the gift. "Keturah's
in luck I will say. Dear, dear, what nice stout boots, to be sure!
Well, now," with a nudge to the silent figure, "she'll do her best to
deserve such kindness, I know. Haven't you got a word to say to the
dear young ladies?"

But Keturah could not be made to speak a word. She dropped her little
curtsy, and stood as if turned to stone, clasping the boots and
stockings to her chest.

"She ain't tongue-tied; not as a rule," said Betty apologetically to the
children; "but she hasn't been much used to presents, and it's a little
too much for her."

"I think," said Miss Unity coming to the rescue, "that we must have our
tea now, Betty, or the young ladies will have no time--and Keturah can
go and try on her new boots and stockings."

"They're my size," said Nancy, speaking for the first time since
Keturah's appearance. "I think they'll be sure to fit."

Betty and her little maid having hurried out of the room, Miss Unity's
tea-table became the object of interest. It was always very attractive
to the children, because it was so different to school-room tea at
Easney.

The dark deep colours of the old Derby china seemed to match the
plum-cake in richness; there were Pennie's hot-cakes in a covered dish,
and Nancy's favourit