Girls of the Forest

ied her or not. Just at that moment, however, she did not care what their feelings were. She had a momentary sense of pleasure on getting into the soft air. A gentle breeze

you walked between the hedge and the wall but the ground beneath your feet and the sky above your head. There was no distant view of any sort. In addition to this disadvantage, it was in winter an inten

quite glad of this, for Penelope might always be bribed. Pauline made up her mind to disobey thoroughly; she would walk where she pleased; she would do what she liked;

Pen?" called

round. Pauline's face put on its darkest scowl. Her heart gave a thump of wild indignation. She went up to Penelope and shook her by the arm. Penelope, still without speaking, managed to extricate herself.

deeply touched. She ve

if I know you feel for me. You needn't obey her, need you? See, I've got three-ha'pence in my pocket. I'l

or Aunt Sophy's thimble. She was working here yesterday and she dropped it, she doesn't know where. She's awful

not your own, for you never said you wouldn't speak to me. But go, if you are so honorable.

o a more distant part of the shrubbery. She went on searching and sear

ruptible. Well, I don't care. I won'

, notwithstanding her state of disgr

have starved a girl to death. No, I won't eat a single thing. And even if I don't die I shall be awfully ill, and she'll be in misery. Oh d

at the thimble. She had not seen it before. It certainly was the most beautiful thimble she had ever looked at. She put it on the tip of her second finger and turned it round and round. The thimble itself was made of solid gold; its base was formed of one beautifully cut sapphire, and round the margin of the top of the thimble was a row of turquoises. The gold was curiously and wonderfully chased, and the sapphire, which formed the entire base of the thimble, shone in a way that dazzled Pauline. She was muc

s of a fashionable make, and a heavy fringe lay low on her forehead. Pauline looked at her, and her heart gave a thump of pleasure. Now, indeed, she could bear

e! Well, I must say you do look doleful. What's the matter

I ought not to sp

er have touched any one of you again with a pair of tongs. But that's not Nancy King. For when Nancy loves a person, she loves that person through thick a

ancy! we sort of promised that we would

rling? So don't say any more about it. Anyhow

everal loud, resounding kisses on each cheek; then she seated h

hen scruples were forgotten, and she s

my very own-and my habit is being made for me at Southampton. I intend to follow the hounds next winter. Think of that, little Paulie. You'll see me as I ride past. I'm supposed to have a very good figure, and I shall look ripping in my habit. Well, but that's not to the point, is it? You are in trouble, you po

I think," she continued, "that it is perfectly horr

you will always have to know me. And if she thinks, old spiteful! that I'm going to put up with her nasty, low, mean, proud w

aid Pauline, who had some sense of justice in h

no more beating about the bush. What's up? Your eyes are red; you have a great smear of ink on your

headache, and everything went wrong. So this morning I could not say any of them when Aunt Sophia call

ody would like somebody else to give her? And didn't that somebody else put her hand into her pocket and send-- Oh, we won't say any

uld have purchased for her. She had a wild desire to know what it was. She determined then

I thought it all out, and I made up my mind to kill two birds with one stone. Now to go on with

achy, and Aunt Sophia said I was to be made an example of, a

It sounds awfu

to speak to me, and I am on

asked Nancy, with a merry

er. But the others won't speak to me. I can't make them. And I am to take my

us manner, and she felt almost offended at the co

u to laugh when I'm so

girl who is practically almost grown up in such a baby fas

e has it in writing. She's awfully clever, and she came round poor fat

aid Nancy. "My dear, you a

f your father trea

are not found out. Well, I was too clever to be found out. And now I am grown up, eighteen last birthday, and I have taken a fancy to cling to my old friends, even if they have a snobby, ridiculous old aunt to be rude to me. My dear, what nonsense she did write!-all about your being

said Pauline, finding hersel

ngry? I won't, then, any more, for Nancy loves little mousy-pousy, and wou

id shame that we're not allowed to be with you. But

sort of thing continues. But now, my dear, the moment has come to help you. The hour

said P

The Hollies, and spend the day at my home. There are my boy cousins from London, and my two friends, Rebecca and Amelia Perkins-jolly girl

re than anything in the world; but I daren't. You mustn't as

ow you were

all my life, I do not think I am out-and-out wicked. It would be wicked

king; then she gave vent to a low, almost incre

seven o'clock to-night. Then you will be safe. You may be wicked, but at least you will be safe. She'll never loo

ne no

nd she will think it is all right. The others won't care

idden to lock

sleep. Meanwhile you will be having a jolly good time; for I can tell you we are going to have sport to-night at The Hollies-fireworks, games, plans for the futu

can't have a m

ou come. Do you suppose I'm going to be balked of my fun by a stupid old woman? Ah! you little know me. My boy cousins, Jack and Tom, and my friends, Becky and Amy, have made all arrangements. We are going to hav

think I'm

fun. Perhaps I'll show you the present I'm going to give you on y

. Pauline had been reclining on the g

ong to go, and yet I am afraid;

's not. And she has no right to have any control ov

ave dad ca

et-gate at half-past seven, and if you like to meet me, why, you can; but if you are still too good, and your conscience is too troublesome, and your scruples too

the breeze caught her full gray skirt and caused it to blow against N

?" she cried. "Have you

antly smiling and dimpli

cket and produced Mis

t a beauty! Who in the world g

t all; it belong

thing! You too

o and picked it up. It had rolled just under that dock-leaf. Isn't it

d-for-evil character you hav

ger. Her fingers were small, white, and tapering. The t

"Never mind, Paulie, about to-morrow. Lend it

it to you? I must ret

't give it back

ut to-

to you, will you, little Paulie? And I tell you what: I know you are starving, and you hate to go into the house for your food. I will brin

deal to have been able to refuse the horrid meals which would be served to her in th

unt Sophia has, as she calls it, preserved t

t!" crie

ally send me a

home. He runs like the wind. You may expect

ll take great care of

ill, child. It

nd then nodding to Pauline, and telling her that she would wa

oked very grown-up and very stylish. To look stylish seemed better than to look pretty in the ey

uline. "It is a shame not to be allowed to see her whenever one likes. And it would be just