Nesta was forced to comply. Mrs Aldworth had been interested in the beautiful story when read aloud by Marcia, but Nesta's rendering of it was not agreeable. "You gabble so, dear," she said, "and you drop your words so that I cannot always catch your meaning. What was that about Ursula?" "Oh, mother, it's so hot, and I can't read. I expect, mothery, I'm the fairy princess, the poor begrimed little princess." "You?" said Mrs Aldworth. "Yes, mothery." "Then who is the dragon?" "Old Marcia," said the child. She had scarcely uttered the words before Marcia herself came in. "Marcia," said Mrs Aldworth, her blue eyes brightening for a minute, "this naughty Nesta says you are a dragon, and she is a begrimed fairy princess." "I don't understand," said Marcia. She looked at Nesta, giving her a long glance, under which the girl had the grace to colour. CHAPTER NINETEEN. NESTA'S CUNNING SCHEME. Marcia never gave herself away. Nesta sincerely longed that she would, but there was not the most remote chance. She seemed, when dinner time came, to have quite forgotten Nesta's spiteful speech. As a matter of fact she had forgotten it. She was sorry for the child. She was sorry for all her sisters; but still she was firmly convinced in her own mind that they ought to look after their mother. Nesta, however, had no special duties that afternoon, and Marcia repeated Flossie's message that they were to meet in the middle of the wood. "Don't be too long away," she said, "but if you greatly wish to go to have tea with the Griffiths, why you may. I understood from Flossie that they were going to the seaside on Saturday." "Thank you, Marcia," said Nesta. She ran out of the room. Dress was indeed a matter of total indifference to her. Once again, she flew down the path, entered the wood, and in a very short time she and Flossie were embracing each other. Flossie was smartly dressed. "You are just as untidy as ever," she said. "But never mind. What about the day after to-morrow? Are you prepared to come with us?" "I'm prepared," said Nesta, "but they're not." "Who are `they'?" "Oh, you know--all of them. I spoke to Ethel this morning, and she said I hadn't a chance." "But it does seem cruel--you can't be cooped up in this hot place when everybody else is away enjoying themselves. You really must come with us--besides, I want you." "I want to go most awfully," said Nesta. "I've got my eighteen and sixpence, and we could have no end of fun." "Mother gave me five shillings this morning," said Flossie. "That, with your eighteen and sixpence, would make twenty-three and sixpence--one pound, three shillings and sixpence. Think of it." "But it wouldn't be that way at all," said Nesta. "My eighteen and sixpence would be in my pocket, and your five shillings would stay in your pocket. I'd treat you when I pleased, and you'd treat me when you pleased. Do you understand?"