Now, indeed, she could bear her punishment, and her revenge on
Miss Tredgold lay even at the door. For Nancy King, the girl whom she was
not allowed to speak to, had entered the grounds.

"Hullo, Paulie!" called out that young lady. "There you are! Well, I must
say you do look doleful. What's the matter now? Is the dear aristocrat
more aristocratic than ever?"

"Oh, don't, Nancy! I ought not to speak to you at all."

"So I've been told by the sweet soul herself," responded Nancy. "She
wrote me a letter which would have put another girl in such a rage that
she would never 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 and thin, through weal and woe. I came to-day to try
to find one of you dear girls. I have found you. What is the matter with
you, Paulie? You do look bad."

"I'm very unhappy," said Pauline. "Oh Nancy! we sort of promised that we
wouldn't have anything more to do with you."

"But you can't keep your promise, can you, darling? So don't say any more
about it. Anyhow, promise or not, I'm going to kiss you now."

Nancy flung her arms tightly round Pauline's neck and printed several
loud, resounding kisses on each cheek; then she seated herself under an
oak tree, and motioned to Pauline to do likewise.

Pauline hesitated just for a moment; then scruples were forgotten, and
she sat on the ground close to Nancy's side.

"Tell me all about it," said Nancy. "Wipe your eyes and talk. Don't be
frightened; it's only poor old Nancy, the girl you have known since you
were that high. And I'm rich, Paulie pet, and although we're only
farmer-folk, we live in a much finer house than The Dales. And I'm going
to have a pony soon--a pony of 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 poor little dear,
and your old Nancy must try and make matters better for you. I love you,
little Paulie. I'm fond of you all, but you are my special favorite. You
were always considered something like me--dark and dour when you liked,
but sunshiny when you liked also. Now, what is it, Paulie? Tell your own
Nancy."

"I'm very fond of you, Nancy," replied Pauline. "And I think