stones round the rim, the goldy thimble
which was Aunt Sophy's."

In spite of her efforts Pauline did find herself turning white.

"Pauline, dear, we can't wait any longer," said Miss Tredgold's voice.

"I must go," said Pauline. "Tell me afterwards."

"Whisper," said Penelope, pulling her hand. "I have got it. The deep-blue
top and the light-blue stones and the goldy middle--I have it all. And I
can tell Aunt Sophy, and show it, and I will if--if you don't tell me
about----"

"About what?"

"About that time when three peoples walked across the lawn--the night
after your birthday, I mean. Will you tell? I asked Briar, and she said
she didn't know. She told a lie. Are you going to tell a lie, too? If you
do I will---- Well, I won't say any more; only I have put it in the
safest of places, and you will never find it. Now you can go down and go
out with Aunt Sophy. Now you know, 'cos I've told you."

Pauline slowly left the room. She felt dazed. Once again Miss Tredgold
called her. She ran to her washstand, filled her basin with cold water,
and dipped her face into it. Then she ran downstairs. She found it
difficult to analyze her own sensations, but it seemed to her that
through her little sister's eyes she saw for the first time her own
wickedness.

"To think that Pen could do it, and to think that I could be afraid of
her!" she thought.

She went out and walked with her aunt and Verena, but the insistent voice
of the sea, as with each swish of the waves it cried, "Come, wash and be
clean," hit like a hammer on her brain.

"What is the matter with Pauline?" thought Verena.

"The child is tired; she is not quite well yet," was Miss Tredgold's
mental reflection.

CHAPTER XXI.

THE WHITE BAY.

Penelope did not repeat her threat, but she watched Pauline. Miss
Tredgold also watched Pauline. Verena felt uncomfortable, without quite
knowing why. The keen vigor and joy of the first days at the seaside had
departed. Pauline became pale once more, and Miss Tredgold's anxieties
about her were revived. The Dales were a healthy race, but one or two of
the Tredgolds had died of consumption. Miss Tredgold remembered a
young--very young--sister of her own who had reached Pauline's age, and
then quite suddenly had become melancholy, and then slightly unwell, and
then more unwell, until the fell scourge had seized her as its prey. She
had died when between sixteen and seventeen. Miss Tredgold seemed to see
her