rtable room in the house. And she'll bring her work-basket
here, and perhaps her mending. I know she'll mend you as soon as she
arrives. She'll make you and mend you; and you need mending, don't you,
dear old Padre?"

"I don't know, my dears. I'm a stupid old man, and don't care about
dress. Who is the person you said was coming? Give her some tea and send
her away. Do you hear, Verena? Give her tea, my darling, and--and toast
if you like, and send her away. We can't have visitors here."

"Patty!" said Verena.

Patty's eyes were shining.

"Pauline!"

The two girls came forward as though they were little soldiers obeying
the command of their captain.

"Take Padre by the right arm, Pauline. Patty, take Padre by the left arm.
Now then, Paddy, quick's the word. March!"

Poor Mr. Dale was completely lifted from his chair by his two vigorous
daughters, and then marched outside his study into the sunshine.

"We are not going to be cross," said Verena, kissing him. "It is only
your Renny."

"And your Paulie," said the second girl.

"And your Rose Briar," said the third.

"And your Patty," said the fourth.

"And your Lucy," "And your Josephine," "And your Helen," "And your
Adelaide," said four more vigorous pairs of lips.

"And we all want you to stand up," said Verena.

"Good heavens! I did think I had come to the end of my worries. And what
on earth does this mean? Penelope, my child, what a hideous bouquet you
have in your hand! Come here and kiss father, my little one."

Penelope trotted briskly forward.

"Do you like my red frock, father?" she asked.

"It is very nice indeed."

"I thought it wor. And is my hair real tidy, father?"

"It stands very upright, Penelope."

"I thought it did. And you like my little blue stockings, father?"

"Very neat, dear."

"I thought they wor."

"You look completely unlike yourself, Penelope. What is the matter?"

"I want to be a true, kind lady," said the little girl. "I am gathering
grasses for my aunty; so I are."

She trotted away into the house.

"What a pretty, neat, orderly little girl Penelope has become!" said Mr.
Dale. "But---- You really must excuse me, my dear girls. You are most
charming, all of you. Ah, my dears!--so fresh, so unsophisticated,
so--yes, that is the word--so unworldly. But I must get back to my
beloved Virgil. You don't know--you can never know--what a moment of
triumph is mine. You must excuse me, darlings--Verena, you are nearly