ss that when Penelope turned the last corner she gave a
sudden whoop, leapt nearly a foot into the air, and then darted out of
the house as fast as she could.

"I 'spect I's done it this time," thought Pen.

Meanwhile in the nursery, after a moment's reflection, nurse added a
postscript of her own to Pen's letter.

"Miss Penelope is very queer, and don't look well at all."

That letter was put in the post, and in due time received by Miss
Tredgold.

Penelope began to count the hours. She knew that no answer could come for
some time after the letter was written. During the next day she went at
intervals to visit Betty, and begged her for drinks of vinegar; and as
she paid Betty by more and more presents out of Pauline's old bandbox,
she found that individual quite amenable. After drinking the vinegar
Penelope once again suffered from the "doubly-up pain in her tum-tum."
She spoke of her agonies to the others, who pitied her a good deal, and
Josephine even presented her with some very precious peppermints for the
purpose of removing it. Towards evening she seemed better, and talked
continually of the seaside and how she intended to enjoy herself there.
And then she suggested that her sisters should come and help her to pack
her things. The girls naturally asked why they were to do it, and she
replied:

"'Cos I'm going on a journey, and it's most 'portant. None of you are
going, but I am."

"You're not going on any journey," said Lucy. "You do talk rubbish."

"What you bet?" asked Penelope, who saw an instant opportunity of making
a little money.

"Nothing," replied Lucy. "You are talking rubbish. Get out of my way. I'm
very busy."

Pen looked wildly around her. She was in such a state of suppressed
excitement that she could stop at nothing. Her sisters were all close at
hand. Patty and Briar were sitting as usual almost in each other's
pockets. Adelaide, Josephine, Lucy, and Helen made a group apart. Pen
thought carefully.

"There's six of 'em," she said to herself. "I ought to make a little
money by six of 'em. Look here!" she called out. "You all say I'm not
going on a journey to-morrow; I say I am. Will you give me a penny each
if I go? Is it done? Is it truly done? If I don't go I'll give you a
penny each."

"But you haven't got any pence to give us."

"I will borrow from nursey. I know she'll lend me the money. But I shan't
need it, for I am going. Will you give me a penny each if I go?"

"Oh, yes,