er to her usual health; but I
don't quite like the look of the elder girl."

Verena, who was in the room, now came forward.

"Pauline is always pale," she said. "If it is only that she looks a
little more pale than usual----"

"It isn't that," interrupted the doctor. "Her nervous system has got a
most severe shock."

"The fact is this," said Miss Tredgold. "The child has not been herself
for some time. It was on that account that I brought her to the seaside.
She was getting very much better. This accident is most unfortunate, and
I cannot understand how she knew about Penelope."

"It was a precious good thing she did find it out," said the doctor, "or
Mr. Carver's two little children and your young niece would all have been
drowned. Miss Pauline did a remarkably plucky thing. Well, I will send
round a quieting draught. Some one had better sleep in the child's room
to-night; she may possibly get restless and excited."

When Miss Tredgold and Verena found themselves alone, Miss Tredgold
looked at her niece.

"Can you understand it?" she asked.

"No, Aunt Sophy."

"Has Pen told you anything?"

"No."

"We must not question her further just now," said Miss Tredgold. "She
will explain things in the morning, perhaps. Why did the children go to
the White Bay--a forbidden place to every child in the neighborhood? And
how did Pauline know that they were there? The mystery thickens. It
annoys me very much."

Verena said nothing, but her eyes slowly filled with tears.

"My dear," said Miss Tredgold suddenly, "I thought it right this
afternoon to send your father a telegram. He may arrive in the morning,
or some time to-morrow; there is no saying."

"Oh, I'm sure he will come if he remembers," said Verena.

"That's just it, Renny. How long will he remember? Sometimes I think he
has a fossil inside of him instead of a heart. But there! I must not
abuse him to you, my dear."

"He is really a most loving father," said Verena; "that is, when he
remembers. Why he should forget everything puzzles me a good deal; still,
I cannot forget that he is my father."

"And you are right to remember it, dear child. Now go and sleep in the
same room with Pen, and watch her. I will take care of Pauline."

Pauline was given her sleeping draught, and Miss Tredgold, placing
herself in an easy-chair, tried to think over the events of the day. Soon
her thoughts wandered from the day itself to the days that had gone
before, and she