quite a cold wind
blowing, and the sky was laden with clouds.

"We'll have rain to-day," said Nancy; "rain, and perhaps thunder. I feel
thunder in the air, and I never was mistaken yet. We must be quick, or
we'll both be drenched to the skin."

Accordingly the two walked quickly through the Forest path. But before
they reached the wicket-gate the first mutterings of thunder were
audible, and heavy drops of rain were falling.

"I must leave you now, Paulie," said Nancy, "for if I go any farther I'll
be drenched to the skin. Climb up your tree, get into your bedroom, and
go to bed. If you can manage to send that white dress over to me, I will
put on a patch that even your aunt will not see. Put on another dress, of
course, this morning, and say nothing about the burn. Good-bye, and good
luck! I'll be over about six o'clock to-morrow evening to talk over our
midnight picnic."

"And the thimble," said Pauline. "You won't forget the thimble."

"Not I. Good gracious, what a flash! You had best get home at once; and I
must run for my life or I may be struck down under all these trees."

Pauline stood still for a minute, watching Nancy as she disappeared from
view; then slowly and sadly she went up to the house.

She was too tired and depressed to mind very much that the rain was
falling in showers, soaking her thin white muslin dress, and chilling her
already tired and exhausted little frame. The rattle of the thunder, the
bright flash of the lightning, and the heavy fall of the tempest could
not reach the graver trouble which filled her heart. The way of
transgressors had proved itself very hard for poor Pauline. She disliked
the discomfort and misery she was enduring; but even now she was scarcely
sorry that she had defied and disobeyed Aunt Sophia.

After a great deal of difficulty, and with some injury to her already
injured arm, she managed to climb the beech-tree and so reach the gabled
roof just under her attic window. She pushed the window wide open and got
inside. How dear and sweet and fresh the little chamber appeared! How
innocent and good was that little white bed, with its sheets still
smoothly folded down! It took Pauline scarcely a minute to get into her
night-dress, sweep her offending white dress into a neighboring cupboard,
unlock the door, and put her head on her pillow. Oh, there was no place
like home! It was better to be hungry at home, it was better to be in
punishment at home, than to go away t