So passed the first day. Nesta had even managed, with Flossie's aid, to send a telegram without either Mr or Mrs Griffiths knowing anything about it. Those magical shillings, which had been produced by her yellow-boy, were so useful. She went to bed that night without any unpleasant telegram, or any unpleasant person coming from Newcastle to disturb her pleasure. But the next morning she woke with a sigh. It would be all over to-day; she could not expect it to last longer than the middle of the day. Pleasure would be followed by retribution. She had made up her mind to this. She thought, however, that she would have a good morning. Immediately after breakfast she got away with Flossie. "Floss, it will be all up to-day; they are quite certain to send for me. Even if Molly and Ethel did not open the telegram last night, they will at least send it on to old Marcia, and do you suppose that Miss Mule Selfish will not use every bit of her influence to get me back, and to have me well punished? There's no doubt on that point whatever." "I know all that," said Flossie. "But, perhaps, they won't want you back." "Not want me back?" said Nesta. This comment, delightful as it sounded, was scarcely flattering. "Mothery will want me," said Nesta. "If you thought that, I wonder you came." "Oh, don't begin to reproach me," said Nesta. "Let us go and have a long, long morning all by ourselves." "But I want to bathe. Mother is going to bathe, and she said we two could go with her. You didn't, of course, bring a bathing dress, but we can hire them here." Nesta was not inclined to bathe. It would, she protested, take up too much time. She wanted to go for a long walk alone with her friend. She suggested that they should go first of all to a pastrycook's, supply themselves with a good, large bag of edibles, and then wander away on the cliffs. Flossie; after due consideration, was nothing loath. "That horrid telegram is sure to come, and then the fat will be in the fire," said Nesta. "That's true enough," replied Flossie, "and I expect I'll be scolded too. You'll have to stand the blame--you'll have to tell them that it was more your fault than mine." "Oh, I like that!" said Nesta. "You mean to tell me that you won't take my part, when I get into a beastly row all on account of you?" The girls had a little tiff, as was their way; but their real affection for each other soon smoothed it over. Mrs Griffiths was talked round to see the expediency of Nesta and Flossie putting off their bathe until the next day, and accordingly the two girls started off for their walk.