.

Kettles made no answer, though there was a sudden gleam in her eyes.

"Perhaps you don't like honey?" ventured Pennie slyly.

"Don't know what it is," answered Kettles. "I like bread and dripping."

"Oh, I'm sure it must be much nicer than that," said Nancy. "That
doesn't sound at all nice. May I spread some for her?" she asked
eagerly of Nurse.

It is doubtful if Nurse quite liked such a use made of her honey, for
she thought dripping more suitable for such as Kettles, but she could
not refuse Nancy anything. So she answered readily enough,--"To be
sure, my dear," and made no objection; while Nancy, choosing the biggest
piece of toast, proceeded to plaster it thickly with honey. When,
however, these preparations being finished, she dragged up a chair and
hospitably invited Kettles to take a seat between herself and Pennie,
Nurse felt it time to protest.

"Kettles had better run home now, my dear, and eat it on the way. Her
mother will want her."

But there was such an outcry against this from both the girls that she
had to give way, and in a moment the energetic Nancy had seated Kettles
at the table, taken away her jug of tea-leaves, and placed the bread and
honey before her. A strange addition certainly to Nurse's tea-party,
and quite out of keeping with the fresh neatness of the other visitors,
the bright ribbons in Nurse's cap, and her glistening satin apron. From
her battered old bonnet to the grimy little claw in which she held her
bread, there was nothing neat or fresh or bright about poor Kettles.

Nurse sat looking on at all this with very mixed feelings. She liked to
give the children pleasure, and yet what could be more unsuitable than
the close neighbourhood of Kettles? If Mrs Hawthorne or Miss Unity
"chanced in," what would they think of finding Pennie and Nancy in such
strange company? They would certainly blame Nurse for allowing it, and
quite rightly too--even if Kettles had been a neat clean little girl it
would not be "the thing;" but as it was, nothing could have been more
unlucky than her appearance just at that time.

While these thoughts passed through Nurse's mind and completely spoilt
any enjoyment of her tea, Pennie and Nancy cast sidelong glances, full
of curiosity and interest, at their visitor. They were too polite to
stare openly at her, and went through the form of a conversation with
Nurse in order that she might feel quite at her ease. Presently,
however, when sh