ke Miss Tredgold
need their comforts. She won't find much comfort here, I'm thinking.
She'll need her food well cooked, and that she won't get at The Dales.
She'll need her room pretty and spick-and-span; she won't get much of
that sort of thing at The Dales. My dear young ladies, you leave the
house as it is, and, mark my words, Miss Tredgold will go in a week's
time at the latest."

CHAPTER II.

A HANDFUL.

The girls looked full at nurse while she was talking. A look of
contentment came into Verena's face. She shook herself to make sure she
was all there; she pinched herself to be certain that she was not
dreaming; then she settled down comfortably.

"There never was anybody like you, nursey," she said. "You always see the
common-sense, possible side of things."

"Eh!" said nurse. "If I hadn't seen the common-sense, possible side of
things many years ago, where would I be with the handling and bringing up
of you ten young ladies? For, though I say it that shouldn't, there ain't
nicer or bonnier or straighter children in the whole Forest; no, nor
better-looking either, with cleaner souls inside of them; but for all
that, anybody else"--and here nurse gave a little sort of wink that set
Pauline screaming--"anybody else would say that you were a handful. You
are a handful, too, to most people. But what I say now is this. You
needn't take any notice of me; you can keep your own counsel and say
nothing; but if you want her to go--the lady that has no call to be
here--the lady that's forced herself where she ain't wanted--why, you
have _got_ to be handfuls. And now I'll go into the house with my two
precious lambs."

The elder "precious lamb" looked very cross at being suddenly informed
that she was to go indoors while the sun shone so brightly and the summer
warmth surrounded her.

"No, I won't," said Penelope. "I am going to stay out with the others.
I'm a very big girl; I am not a baby any longer. And you aren't to keep
me in the nursery any longer, Verena. And I won't be naughty. I'll make
up to Aunt Sophia like anything--that I will--if you keep me in the
nursery any longer."

This was such a daring threat that, although Penelope was not thought
much of as a rule, the girls looked at her now with a sort of awe.

"She might as well stay for a quarter of an hour longer, mightn't she,
nursey?" said Briar.

"No, that she ain't to do, Miss Rose. She comes right indoors and
prepares for her bed like a g