airly by you until I have. Now, my dear
girls, please understand that before I go to bed to-night I get that
authority. I shall get it m writing, too, so that you can none of you
gainsay it, or slip past it, or avoid it. When the authority comes, then
will also come the happy life of rule, for the life of misrule can never
be really happy--never for long. Believe me, I am right."

Pauline pulled her hand away from Aunt Sophia's. She ran to the other
side of Verena.

"I don't like you, Aunt Sophia," she said, "and I don't want you to stay.
Renny, you don't like her either, and you don't want her to stay. We
don't believe all the things you are saying, Aunt Sophia. You can't look
into our hearts, and although you are clever, you can't know all about
us. Why shouldn't we be wild in our own fashion? We are very happy. To be
happy is everything. We have only been unhappy since we knew you were
coming. Please go away; please do."

"You cannot influence me, Pauline. I love you too well to desert you. Now
I am going into the house. You can discuss me then with your sister to
your heart's content."

Miss Tredgold went very slowly towards the old and dilapidated house.
When she reached the hall door she turned and looked around her.

"I certainly have tough work before me. How am I to manage? If I were not
thinking so much of Alice, I should leave these impertinent, neglected,
silly girls to their fate. But no--I seem to see my sister's eyes, to
hear her voice. I can so well understand what she would really want me to
do. I owe a great debt of gratitude to my beloved sister. I am free,
hampered by no ties. I will reform these wild young nieces. I will not be
easily deterred."

Miss Tredgold clasped her hands before her. The moon was rising in a
silvery bow in the sky; the air was deliciously fresh and balmy.

"The place is healthy, and the children are strong," she thought,
"notwithstanding their bad food and their disreputable, worn-out clothes.
They are healthy, fresh, good-looking girls. But this is summer-time, and
in summer-time one puts up with discomforts for the sake of air like
this. But what about winter? I have no doubt they have scarcely any
fires, and the house must be damp. As the children grow older they will
develop rheumatism and all kinds of troubles. Yes, my duty is plain. I
must look after my nieces, both soul and body, for the future."

As Miss Tredgold thought these last thoughts she re-entered the h