refore, of providing Kettles with new boots and
stockings did not commend itself to her in the least. There were proper
ways of giving clothes to the poor. If the child's mother was a decent
woman, as old Nurse had said, she belonged to a clothing club and could
get them for herself. If she was not a respectable person, the less
Pennie knew of her the better. At any rate Miss Unity resolved to do
her best to discourage the project, and certainly Pennie was not likely
to hear much, either at her house or the deanery, to remind her of
Anchor and Hope Alley and its unfortunate inmates.

Pennie on her side, though a trifle discouraged by the coldness with
which any mention of Kettles was received, felt that at least she had
taken a step towards her further acquaintance. Very likely her
godmother might come in time to approve of the idea and to wish to hear
more about it. "I shall have something to tell Nancy at last," she said
to herself when she woke up the next morning and remembered the
conversation.

But she was not to see Nancy as soon as she thought. After breakfast
Andrew arrived, not with the waggonette as usual to fetch Pennie home,
but mounted on Ruby with a letter from Mrs Hawthorne to Miss Unity.
Dickie was ill. It might be only a severe cold, her mother said, but
there were cases of measles in the village, and she felt anxious. Would
Miss Unity keep Pennie with her for the next few days? Further news
should be sent to-morrow.

As she read this all sorts of plans and arrangements passed through Miss
Unity's mind and stirred it pleasantly. She was sorry for Dickie and
the others, but it was quite an excitement to her to think of keeping
Pennie with her longer.

"Miss Penelope will remain here to-night," she said to Betty, "and
probably for two or three days. Miss Delicia is ill, and they think it
may be measles."

"Oh, indeed, Miss!" said Betty with a sagacious nod. "Then it'll go
through all the children."

"Do you think so?" said Miss Unity, who had great faith in Betty's
judgment. "Then it may be a matter of weeks?"

"Or months, Miss," replied Betty. "It depends on how they sicken."

"In that case I've been thinking," said Miss Unity timidly, "whether it
would be better to put Miss Penelope into the little pink-chintz room."

"Well, it is more cheerful than the best room, Miss," said Betty
condescendingly, "though it's small."

The pink-chintz room was a tiny apartment opening out of