the night of
Paulie's birthday? Who was the three peoples who walked holding each
other's hands?--little peoples with short skirts--little peoples about
the size of you, maybe; and about the size of Briar, maybe; and about the
size of Paulie, maybe. Who was they? You answer me that. They wasn't
ghostses, was they?"

Briar turned pale; Patty glanced at her. Adelaide, who had watchful blue
eyes, turned and looked from one sister to the other.

"You are talking rubbish," said Briar. "Go and play."

"Who was they?" repeated Pen.

"I don't know."

"Am I baby or big wise girl?"

"Oh, you are an infant Solomon! I don't know who the people were."

"Don't you?"

Penelope looked at Briar with a sigh of disappointment. Then she
whispered to herself:

"It's 'cos of Adelaide. Course they don't want to say anything when
Addy's there."

She strolled away.

"What was the child talking about?" asked Adelaide.

"I'm sure I don't know," replied Briar. "She's the rummiest little thing
that ever walked. But there's no good in taking any notice of what she
says."

"Of course no one does," answered Adelaide. "But I do wonder if ghosts
ever walk across the lawn. Do you believe in ghosts, Briar?"

"Certainly not," said Briar. "No girl in her senses does."

"I don't know at all as to that," replied Adelaide. "There was a girl
that came to stay with Nancy King last year; her name was Freda Noell.
She believed in ghosts. She said she had once been in a haunted house.
What is it, Briar? Why do you shrug your shoulders?"

"I don't know," said Briar. "I don't want to talk about ghosts. I don't
believe in them."

She got up and crossed the lawn. The next moment Pen had tucked her hand
inside her arm.

"You needn't keep it from me," she said in a whisper. "It was you and
Patty and Paulie. I knew who you were, 'cos the moon shone on Patty's
Glengarry cap. You needn't deny it."

"I do deny it. I didn't go," said Briar.

She felt her heart smite her as she told this lie. She walked quickly.

"Do leave me," she said. "You are a little girl that doesn't at all know
her own place."

"But I do know it," said Penelope. "My place is at the seaside. I want to
go there. I'm 'termined to go there. If I don't go one way I'll go
another. Why should Paulie, what is the naughtiest of girls, have all the
fun? I don't mind Renny being there so much. And why should I, what is
the very best of girls, be kept stuck here with only nursey and yo