continued Verena. "She told us
when she was leaving that she meant to write to Aunt Sophia. She was
dreadfully cross at having to go, and the one mean thing she ever did in
all her life was to make the remark she did. She said it was very little
short of disgraceful to have ten girls running about the New Forest at
their own sweet will, without any one to guide them."

"Oh, what a nuisance the Step is!" said Rose, whose pet name was Briar.
"Shouldn't I like to scratch her! Dear old Paddy! of course he knows how
to manage us. Oh, here he comes--the angel! Let's plant him down in our
midst. Daisy, put that little stool in the middle of the circle; the
Padre shall sit there, and we'll consult as to the advent of precious
Aunt Sophia."

Patty, Briar, and Verena now jumped to their feet and ran in the
direction where an elderly gentleman, with a stoop, gray hair hanging
over his shoulders, and a large pair of tortoise-shell spectacles on his
nose, was walking.

"Paddy, Paddy! you have got to come here at once," called out Briar.

Meanwhile Verena took one of his arms, Patty clasped the other, Briar
danced in front, and so they conducted him into the middle of the group.

"Here's your stool, Paddy," cried Briar. "Down you squat. Now then,
squatty-_vous_."

Mr. Dale took off his spectacles, wiped them and gazed around him in
bewilderment.

"I was construing a line of Virgil," he said. "You have interrupted me,
my dears. Whatever is the matter?"

"We have brought the culprit to justice," exclaimed Pauline. "Paddy,
forget the classics for the time being. Think, just for a few moments, of
your neglected--your shamefully neglected--daughters. Ten of them, Paddy,
all running wild in the Forest glades. Aren't you ashamed of yourself?
Don't you feel that your moment of punishment has come? Aunt Sophia
arrives to-morrow. Now, what have you got to say for yourself?"

"But, my dear children, we can't have your Aunt Sophia here. I could not
dream of it. I remember quite well she came here once a long time ago. I
have not got over it yet. I haven't really."

"But she is coming, Paddy, and you know it quite well, for you got the
letter. How long do you think you can put up with her?"

"Only for a very short time, Pauline; I assure you, my darling, she is
not--not a pleasant person."

"Describe her, Paddy--do," said Verena.

She spoke in her very gentlest tone, and held out one of her long white
hands and allowed her father