'm going home. As Paulie didn't send you a message, are you
going to make it hot for her?"

"That I am. Somebody will come here--somebody I know--to see somebody she
knows; and there will be a begging and imploring, and somebody she knows
will do nothing for somebody I know. Now, can you take that in?"

"You are very funny," answered Penelope, "but I think I can. I'm glad,
and I'm not glad, that I comed. I won't stay to dinner; I'm going
straight away home this blessed minute."

CHAPTER XX.

PEN VICTORIOUS.

Penelope managed to reach home unattended. She was tired and draggled and
dusty, and also very much scratched. Her sisters received her with whoops
of astonishment and welcome. They had not missed her, it is true, but
when they saw her coming sadly and sheepishly in at the wicket-gate they
concluded that they had. Adelaide was the first to reach her.

"Don't ask me any questions and you'll hear no lies," was Pen's remark.
She waved her fat hand as she spoke. "I am going to nursey straight away.
I has something I wants to say to nursey. Has the post gone? I want to
catch the post immediate."

"You are too queer for anything," said Adelaide; "but go your own way.
You'll catch it for being out all by yourself in the woods."

"I won't catch it, but there are others who will," replied Penelope. "And
now keep out of my way. I want to find nursey."

She marched in a most defiant and even queenly style towards the house;
and the others, after laughing for a moment, returned to their various
pursuits and forgot all about her.

When nurse saw Penelope she uttered a groan.

"There you come," she said. "You are a handful! You never turned up at
dinner-time, although we looked for you everywhere. Now, where were you
hiding?"

"Never mind that, nursey. Get out your writing 'terials."

"Now, whatever does the child mean? Sakes! you are scratched, and your
nice new holland frock is all torn, and you are dusty and pale and
trembling--as pale and trembling as can be."

"Is it pale I am?" cried Penelope. "Is it? Is it? Nursey, I love you,
love you, love you!"

With a flop Penelope's fat arms were flung round nurse's neck; her hot
little lips caressed nurse's cheeks.

"Oh," she cried, "how much I love you! Get writing 'terials quick. Get
pen and ink and paper, and sit down and write. I will tell you what to
say. You must write this instant minute. It is the most 'portant thing in
all the world. Write, and be