e thought, "is incorruptible. Well, I don't care. I won't
put up with this unjust punishment."

The dinner-gong sounded, and Pauline, notwithstanding her state of
disgrace, discovered that she was hungry.

"Why should I eat?" she said to herself. "I won't eat. Then perhaps I'll
die, and she'll be sorry. She'll be had up for manslaughter; she'll 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 dear! why
did mother die and leave us? And why did dreadful Aunt Sophy come? Mother
was never cross; she was never hard. Oh mother! Oh mother!"

Pauline was now so miserable that she flung herself on the ground and
burst into passionate weeping. Her tears relieved the tension of her
heart, and she felt slightly better. Presently she raised her head, and
taking out her handkerchief, prepared to mop her eyes. As she did so she
was attracted by something that glittered not far off. She stretched out
her hand and drew Miss Tredgold's thimble from where it had rolled under
a tuft of dock-leaves. A sudden burst of pleasure escaped her lips as she
glanced 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 much interested; she forgot that she was hungry, and
that she had entered into Punishment Land. It seemed to her that in her
possession of the thimble she had found the means of punishing Aunt
Sophia. This knowledge soothed her inexpressibly. She slipped the lovely
thimble into her pocket, and again a keen pang of downright healthy
hunger seized her. She knew that food would be awaiting her in the
schoolroom. Should she eat it, or should she go through the wicket-gate
and lose herself in the surrounding Forest?

Just at this moment a girl, who whistled as she walked, approached the
wicket-gate, opened it, and came in. She was dressed in smart summer
clothes; her hat was 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.