an't go to the picnic, and I must implore her not to tell. Oh,
what shall I do? How shall I persuade her?"

On Sunday morning, therefore, notwithstanding her promises, Pauline was
inattentive at lessons. But Miss Tredgold was not inclined to be
over-severe. The doctor had said that the child had not only been badly
burnt, but had also received a nervous shock. He had further added that
the more liberty she was given, and the more fresh air just at present,
the better.

Accordingly Pauline was sent into the garden long before the others had
finished their lessons. She presently sat down under the shade of a tree.
She was not to meet Nancy till six o'clock.

By-and-by Penelope came out, saw her sister, and ran towards her.

"Have you got the thimble?" she asked.

"Of course I haven't. I don't know anything about the thimble. What do
you mean?"

Alas for Pauline! Her first lie had made her second easy.

Penelope looked at her in puzzled wonder.

"I thought you did know about it," she said, disappointment stealing over
her shrewd little face.

"I don't know anything about it. Don't worry me."

"You are so cross that I'm sure you have done something desperate
naughty," said Penelope. "I want to find out what it is, and I don't want
to stay with you. I think you are horrid."

She marched away defiantly, her squat little figure and bare legs looking
so comical that Pauline burst out laughing.

"What am I coming to?" she said to herself. "This is lie number two. Oh,
dear! I feel just as if a net were surrounding me, and the net was being
drawn tighter each moment, and I was being dragged into a pit out of
which there is no escape. What shall I do?"

Just then Mr. Dale, who seldom left the house, appeared in view. He was
walking slowly, his hands thrust into his pockets, his head bent forward;
he was murmuring some sentences of his beloved Virgil to himself. He took
no notice of Pauline. He did not even see her. Neither did he notice the
chair in which she was sitting. He came bang up against her before he
knew that she was there.

"What have I done?" he exclaimed. "Oh, it is you, Pauline! How
inconsiderate of you to sit like this on the lawn!"

"But we always sit on the chairs, dad," said Pauline, springing to her
feet.

He forgot that he had made the remark. He laid his hand on her shoulder.

"I have been having a delightful time," he said--"truly a delightful
time. All this morning I have been in contact