e stupid headaches," she said. "They come and go, and
whenever I want to think they get worse. I suppose I have been very bad,
and that all you say is right, but somehow I can't think it out. Only
there is one thing, Pen--if I were you I wouldn't do wrong any more. It
isn't worth while."

"It is quite worth while getting you cheered up," said Pen, "so I thought
I'd let you know."

That same evening Briar and Patty held a consultation in their own room.

"We must do it after breakfast to-morrow," said Patty.

Just then there was a slight rustle. Briar paused to listen.

"Those horrid mice have come back again," she said. "We must get
Tiddledywinks to spend a night or two in this room."

"Oh, bother the mice!" was Patty's response. "Let us arrange when we must
see her."

"I have planned it all out," said Briar. "We must tell her just
everything we know. She won't be so terribly angry with Paulie, because
poor Paulie is not well. But I suppose she will punish us terribly. I
have been thinking what our punishment ought to be."

"What?" asked Patty.

"Why, not to ride either of the ponies until after Christmas."

"Oh! don't tell her to do that," said Patty, in some alarm. "I have been
so pining for my rides."

"There's that mouse again," said Briar.

The children now looked under the little beds, and under the farther one
there was something which would certainly have preferred to be thought an
enormous mouse. On being dragged to the front, the stout, dishevelled
figure of Penelope Dale was discovered.

"I comed a-purpose," said Pen, who did not look the least taken aback. "I
saw by your faces that you were up to fun, and I thought I'd like to be
in it. It is well I comed. I am willing to talk to you about everything.
Call me a mouse if you like. I don't care. I meant to listen. I am glad I
comed."

"You are too mean for anything," said Briar. "You are the horridest girl
I ever came across. Why did you dare to hide under my bed in order to
listen to what I had to say to Patty?"

"I knew it all afore," said Penelope, "so that wasn't why I comed. I
comed to keep you from doing mischief. What are you going to tell
to-morrow?"

"That isn't your business," said Briar.

"But I am going to make it my business. What you have to tell isn't news
to me. You are going to 'fess 'cos of the pain in your little hearts. You
must keep your pain, and you must not 'fess. You are going to tell Aunt
Sophy about that wicked,