re there, but the first person who
caught Pennie's eye was the dean himself, standing on the rug,
coffee-cup in hand, smiling and talking. She shrank into the background
as much as she could, and sat down by Sabine Merridew in the shelter of
a curtain, hoping that no one would notice her in this retired position.

And at first this seemed likely, for everyone had a great deal to say to
each other, and there was a general buzz of conversation all over the
room. Pennie soon grew secure enough to listen to what the dean was
saying to Miss Unity, who had taken a seat near him. He stood before
her with upraised finger, while she, fearful of losing a word, neglected
her tea and refused any kind of food, gazing at him with rapt attention.

This missionary address at the Institute, he was telling her, was an
idea of his own. He wanted to keep up the impression made by the
bishop's sermon. "That, my dear Miss Unity," he said, "is our great
difficulty--not so much to make the impression as to keep it up. To my
mind, you know, that's a harder matter than just to preach one eloquent
sermon and go away. The bishop's lighted the torch and we must keep it
burning--keep it burning--"

"Sabine," said Mrs Merridew, raising her voice, "has Penelope any
cake?"

The dean caught the name at once.

"What!" he said, looking round, "is my old friend Miss Penelope there?"

The dreaded moment had come. How Pennie wished herself anywhere else!

"And how," said the dean, gently stirring his coffee and preparing to be
facetious--"how does that long job of needlework get on, Mrs Penelope?"

Did he mean Kettles' clothes? Pennie wondered. How could he know?

"I've only just begun," she answered nervously, twisting her hands
together.

There was such a general sound of subdued laughter at this from the
guests, who had all kept silence to listen to the dean's jokes, that
Pennie saw she had said something silly, though she had no idea what it
could be. All the faces were turned upon her with smiles, and the dean,
quite ignorant of the misery he was causing her, drank up his coffee
well pleased.

"And so," he continued, as he put down his cup, "you're going to see the
dissolving views. And are you as much interested in the Karawayo
missions as my young folks?"

Poor Pennie! She was a rigidly truthful child, and she knew there could
be only one answer to this question. Miss Unity had told her that the
Merridew girls were very muc