"But," objected Philippa, "they're all nasty, except eggs. Can't she have something nice? Jelly and tarts, and roast chickens?" "Suppose," said Miss Mervyn, "we write out a list of things, and then you can show it to your mother this evening, and hear what she thinks." That seemed a good plan to Philippa, and she was soon so absorbed in writing down desirable delicacies, that she would hardly consent to be dressed when the hour came for her to go to Mrs Trevor. Ready at last, she flew down-stairs in high spirits with the list in her hand, and at once burst into the story, jumbling up Becky, Dennis, Dan, and Tuvvy the wheelwright in such a manner that her mother gazed at her distractedly. Philippa was too excited to make things very clear, but at last Mrs Trevor gathered that for some reason or other she wished to go and see the sister of the boy who worked in the garden. "And I want to take her these," added Philippa, thrusting a long scrawled list before her mother's eyes. Mrs Trevor raised her eye-glasses and looked at it in despair. "Why, my darling?" she inquired feebly. "She's ill," answered Philippa. "May Mrs Bunce pack them in a basket?" "Certainly, you may send them to the little girl if you wish, my dear, and it's very sweet of you to think of it. But I couldn't let you go into a dirty cottage and see sick people, you know. You might catch all sorts of complaints." And to this, in spite of Philippa's angry arguments, Mrs Trevor remained firm. It did not matter, she said, what Dennis and Maisie were allowed to do at Fieldside, or how many poor people they went to see there. She did not choose Philippa to have anything to do with sick people in Upwell, and she could not listen to any more on the subject. Philippa flew out of the room with her eyes full of tears, and her list crumpled up in her hand, cast herself upon Miss Mervyn's neck, and told her all this as well as she could for her sobs. Miss Mervyn listened with sympathy. "Did your mother say why she did not wish you to go?" she asked presently. "Because," said Philippa with difficulty, "she says I should catch complaints. Dennis and Maisie don't catch complaints." "Would you like me to go and hear what Mrs Trevor says?" suggested Miss Mervyn kindly. "Perhaps I could explain things to her better; but you must promise to be good and patient if your mother does not alter her mind." "I promise, I promise," said Philippa eagerly. "And if you will persuade her, I will never, never be naughty again, and I will love you always." Miss Mervyn shook her head rather sadly. "Don't promise too much," she said, as she left the room. She had a difficult task before her, but she was so sincerely anxious to help Philippa, that she was at last able to put the matter before Mrs Trevor in a way which overcame her objections.