to Pauline's side.

"Pauline," she said, "I am going to the White Bay with the Carvers--those
two children there--that boy and girl; you see 'em. We are going at once.
They have got a basket of cakes, and we are going to gather shells and
have a jolly time. We won't be back till one o'clock."

"But you can't go," said Pauline. She did not know of any danger in
going; she only thought that Penelope meant to disobey Miss Tredgold.
"Aunt Sophy is out, and she has not given you leave," she said. "You must
stay where you are, Pen."

"But you can give me leave, Paulie, darling, can you not?"

"I can't do anything of the sort; you mustn't ask me."

Pen's eyes danced. The children on the sands called out to her.

"Be quick, little girl, or we'll be cotched. If nurse comes out she won't
let us go. We can go if we start at once."

"Well, I'm off. You must give me leave, Paulie. If you don't I will----"

"Don't!" said Pauline, backing away from her sister. She felt a sort of
terror when Penelope taunted her with her superior knowledge and the
cruel use she meant to put it to.

"Go if you like," she said, in a white heat of passion. "You are the
worry of my life."

Pen gave her a flashing, by no means good sort of glance, and then tore
down the winding path which led to the sands. Pauline got up; she left
her seat by the shore and went inland.

"I don't know how I am to bear it," she said to herself. "Pen has made me
so wretched. I was hoping that nothing would be known. I was trying to
forget, and I was making a lot of good resolves, and I am loving Aunt
Sophy more and more each day. Why have I got such a dreadful little
sister as Pen? She is like none of the rest. It seems almost incredible
that I should be in the power of such a small child. Nevertheless I am in
her power. I had no right to let her go to the White Bay; still, I told
her to go, for I couldn't bear the agonies I should have to go through if
I refused. Oh, I am wretched! Pen practically knows everything; so does
Patty, and so does Briar. But they're safe enough; they won't betray
me--they wouldn't for all the world. As to Pen, I don't know what she is
made of. She will be a terrible woman by-and-by."

Pauline walked on until she heard Verena's voice. She then turned back.

"Aunt Sophy said we were to go up to the town to meet her," said Verena.
"She's doing some shopping. She wants to get a new autumn hat for you,
and another for me. Come along, Pauli