puzzled much over Pauline's character and her curious,
half-repellent, half-affectionate attitude towards herself.

"What can be the matter with the child?" she thought. "She doesn't really
care for me as the others do, and yet sometimes she gives me a look that
none of the others have ever yet given me, just as if she loved me with
such a passionate love that it would make up for everything I have ever
missed in my life. Now, Verena is affectionate and sweet, and open as the
day. As to Pen, she is an oddity--no more and no less. I wish I could
think her quite straightforward and honorable; but it must be my mission
to train her in those important attributes. Pauline is the one who really
puzzles me."

By-and-by Pauline opened her eyes. She thought herself alone. She
stretched out her arms and said in a voice of excitement:

"Nancy, you had no right to do it. You had no right to send it away to
London. It was like stealing it. I want it back. Nancy, I must have it
back."

Miss Tredgold went and bent over her. Pauline was evidently speaking in
her sleep. Miss Tredgold returned again to her place by the window. The
dawn was breaking. There was a streak of light across the distant
horizon. The tide was coming in fast. Miss Tredgold, as she watched the
waves, found herself shuddering. But for the merest chance Pauline and
Pen might have been now lying within their cold embrace. Miss Tredgold
shuddered again. She stood up, and was just about to draw the curtain to
prevent the little sleeper from being disturbed by the light, when
Pauline opened her eyes wide, looked gravely at her aunt, and said:

"Is that you, Nancy? How strange and thin and old you have got! And have
you brought it back at last? She wants it; she misses it, and Pen keeps
on looking and looking for it. It is so lovely and uncommon, you see. It
is gold and dark-blue and light-blue. It is most beautiful. Have you got
it for me, Nancy?"

"It is I, dear, not Nancy," said Miss Tredgold, coming forward. "You have
had a very good night. I hope you are better."

Pauline looked up at her.

"How funny!" she said. "I really thought you were Nancy--Nancy King, my
old friend. I suppose I was dreaming."

"You were talking about something that was dark-blue and light-blue and
gold," said Miss Tredgold.

Pauline gave a weak smile.

"Was I?" she answered.

Miss Tredgold took the little girl's hands and put them inside the
bedclothes.

"I am going to get you