Girls of the Forest

nce over them that they did not dare to disobey her orders. Much as they longed to do so, none of

thinking," she said. "You believe th

yes sought

Miss Tredgold. "But, Verena, you are wrong.

good to be downright cr

and rebel. But there comes a time when we neither murmur nor struggle nor rebel. When that time arrives the discipline has done its perfect work, and God removes it. My dear Verena, I am a woman old enough to be your mother. You must trust

will, is it?" said Ve

nt her character to be balanced? Don't you want her to be educated? There is a great deal that is good in her. She has plenty of natural ta

e would prun

do not wish her to associate with Nancy King. I do not wish her to be idle or inattentive. I want her to be energetic, full of purpose, resolved to do her best, and to take advantage of those opportunities which have come to you all, my dear, when I, your mother's sister, took up my abode at The Dales. Sometime, dear, it is quite possible that, owing to what will

, that kindness goes a long way. Pauline is perhaps the most affectionate of us all. In some wa

ime comes kindness will not be wanting. Now

or Pauline, but the pleasant time they were enjoying in the middle of this lovely summer's day was not to be despised, even if their sister was under punishment. But Verena

it hardly," thoug

ere it had been placed an hour before. Verena could scarcely bear herself. There must be something terribly wrong with her sister. They had often been hungry in the

ntidy in appearance. She slipped into the nearest chair in a sulky, ungain

anxious gaze. She kept on looking down. Occasionally her lips moved. There was a

oom children. "I wonder who has given Pauline fruit. Did she

ame in presently, but she took no more notice o

ing roofs, and would have been much too hot in summer but for the presence of a big beech tree, which grew to within a few feet of the windows. More than once the girls in their emancipated days, as they now considere

the north walk, thought with a sense of sat

he lawn doing their needlework, and Aunt Sophia will be reading t

ppy. Once or twice she smiled, and a vindict

so terribly clever; but, after all, she has not the least idea of the right way to treat me. N

ters and Miss Tredgold. Miss Tredgold slightly raised her voice as the culprit appeared. She read alou

eminds me; I wonder where Aunt Sophy's thimble has got to. I did look hard for it. I wish I could find it. I do want that penny so muc

nearly disappe

e was reading an open book. "She doesn't walk as though she was tur'ble unhappy. I wonder what she's up to. And tha

frowsy red poppies were folded in a piece of tissue paper. Pauline then slipped on her sailor hat. She had a great love for the old sash; and as to the poppies, she thought them far more beautiful than any real flowers that ever grew. She meant to tie the

r things of that sort,"

things of this sort to-

ough the back way. She had to go through the yard, but no one saw her except Betty, who, as she afterwards remarked, did observe the flutter of a white dress with the tail of her eye. But Betty at that momen

here she put on her extra finery. Her yellow sash was tied

rl who presently met Nancy King on

never have any luck again all my life; but I

ite the old cat? Now then, let's be off, or w

and school at Brighton you used to envy me my poppies. I found them among mother's old things, and Verena

ay, 'How fi

somehow yo

ecky are keen to make your acquaintance. You can call them by their Christian names; they're not at all stiff. Surname, Perkins. Nice girls-brought up at my school-father in the pork line; j

now I had only y

d-by you will share my bed. Amy and Becky will be in the same room. They think there's a gh

y day. You are quite sure that I'll g

Haven't you got th

n climb up the beech tree quite well. Oh! that reminds me, Nancy;

fashion. I only hope she'll go to your room and tap and tap, and knock and knock, and shout and shout, and get, oh, so frightened! and have the door burst open; and then she'll see for herse

aven't got to live with her; but I have, and I couldn't stand her anger and her contempt. I'd be put into Punishment Land for a year. An

ypops you have ever tasted in your life? And afterwards fireworks; for Jack and Tom have bought a lot of Catherine-wheels and rockets to let off in your honor. And then a cosy, warm

it now, so I'll stick to it. Oh, I'm madly hungr

s upon the boys and when they bring the trout home. But here is a que

onger thought of going back. Had she done so, she knew well that

k, and I'll enjoy the time with Nancy. For, after all, she's twice as kind as Aunt S

smart boarding school, and no money was spared in order to give her pleasure. It was the dream of Farmer King, and Nancy's dearest ambition also, that she should be turned into a lady. But, alas and alack! Miss Nancy could not overcome the stout yeoman blood in her veins. She was no aristocrat, and nothing could make her one. She was just a hearty, healthy happy-minded English girl; vulgar in voice and loud in speech, but fairly well-intentioned at heart. She was the sort of farmer's daughter who would marry a farmer, and look after the dairy, and rear stalwart sons and hearty girls in her turn. Nature never intended her for a fine lady; but silly Nancy had learnt a great deal more at school than how to talk a lit

consulting him on the tilling of the land and the best way to make the old place profitable; for one day it would be her own, and she would be, for her class in life, a rich girl. Just at present, however, she was passing through a phase, and not a very pleasant one. She thought herself quite good

e girl. Nancy was desired to abstain from visiting at The Dales, and the Dale girls were told that they were not to tal

porch when the two girls appeared. Nancy call

. Pauline, let me introduce my special friend, Becky Perkins. She's in pork, but that don't matter. And my other special friend,

smelt fish. The boys brought in a lot of

ne. "You'd like to take off your hat and wash your hands

said Pauline, flushing angrily, while the two

cratic, Paulie, and nothing will ever take it out of you. And I'm terribly afraid that nothing will take the oth

part and down in another, and the whole appearance of the room, although fascinating, was decidedly patchy. In an alcove at one end stood a four-post bedstead, with a gaudily colored quilt flung over it; and in the alcove at the other end was another four-post bedstead, also boasting of a colored quilt. There were two washstands in the room

other spun them herself, and she put them in lavender years and years ago. I am heartily glad to welcome y

all is!" said Pauline.

g down hungry in your own

uch be

e was to repose. Through the lattice window the sweetest summer air was entering, and roses pee

ancy. "I know it's what a Dale is not expected to submit to;

hether I am a lady or not, I am never too fine for my company; and it was

ything," said Nancy. "Now come downstairs. We are all

fireworks in my l

at a lot the world has to sho

de a contrast to the showy Nancy and the Perkins girls. The boys, Jack and Tom Watson, loo

to her, and said i

of, Miss Pauline Dale. 'Eartily welcome

he farmer's voice topped the others. Each remark called forth fresh shouts of laughter; an

eeks grew rosy. Nancy piled her plate with every available dainty. So