en is in the highest spirits; she is
just laughing and dancing about and looking like a sunbeam."

"Dear, dear!" said Mrs. Hopkins. "I do hope it's nothing wicked. You
girls of the present day are so queer, there's no being up to half your
pranks. It would be a sorry day for me if you were banished from the
school, Susy."

"Oh, I won't be. It will be all right. Anyhow, this is delicious fun,
and I mean to go on with it. What have you got for the old lady's tea,
mother?"

"Well, now, look here. Of course, she's only going to give tea to Miss
O'Hara and Miss O'Flynn--I haven't seen that lady--and yourself and Tom.
That's about all."

"And Tom will have a pretty keen appetite," said Susy. "I'll tell Miss
Kathleen that she is to be at Aunt Church's house quite half-an-hour
before the rest of the girls, so that aunty can have her talk with her
and arrange about the almshouse, and also that Kathleen and Miss O'Hara
may have their meal in comfort. What's the grub, mother? Tell me at
once."

"Bread-and-butter," said Mrs. Hopkins, beginning to count on her
fingers, "a pot of strawberry-jam--"

"Oh, golloptious!" burst from Susy.

"A plumcake--"

"Better and better!" cried Susy.

"A little tin of sardines--some ladies are fond of a savory--"

"Yes, mother; quite right. And so is aunty, for that matter. You haven't
forgotten the water-cress, have you?"

"Here's a great bunch of it. You must turn the tap over it and wash it
as clean as clean. And what with new-laid eggs, and tea with cream in
it, and loaf-sugar, why, I think that's about enough."

"So it is, mother; and it's beautiful. But, mother, I do think Aunt
Church would relish a pound of sausages. It isn't often she has anything
of that kind to eat; she lives very penuriously, you know, mother."

"Well, I suppose I can fling in the sausages. I'll just run round to the
shop and buy them. Now then, eat your own dinner, Susy, and be quick.
Tom has eaten his, and has gone to fetch the wheelbarrow from Dan Smith,
the cartwright."

Mrs. Hopkins's programme was carried out. Tom arrived at the door with
the wheelbarrow about two o'clock. The provisions were stowed safely
away in the bottom and covered over with a piece of old matting, and
then Tom and Susy started off. Both boy and girl were in high spirits.
The day was as fine as it had been on the previous day, and Susy
chattered to her heart's content.

"My word," said Tom, "I must be in it!"

"But you can't