"Oh, no--it is so pretty," said Nellie. "I tell you what," she added, "I'll plait it for you, if you like." "Will you!" answered Nina, "I wish you would." "All right--I'll do it right away, this very minute. And, Pauline darling, you can run into the house for a piece of ribbon. What colour do you want, Nina?" "Oh, anything will do," said Nina--"a bit of grass, anything." "Well, I tell you what," said Nellie; "we are a good way from the house at present, and I have some string in my pocket, so we'll tie it with that, and afterwards you shall have a piece of ribbon before we go down to lunch." So Nina's hot, red hair was very badly and unevenly plaited. It hung rather crooked, much more to the left shoulder than to the right, and the string was not becoming, but that did not matter at all to the emancipated little girl. When Nellie had plaited Nina's hair, she suggested that she should perform the same office for the other two girls. Josie longed to accept, but did not dare. Fanchon answered, "No, thank you, I prefer my hair down until I can put it up properly. I long for the day when I can put my hair up. Don't you?" she added, looking round at the little group who were surveying her. "Indeed, no," answered both the little Hungerfords. "We should hate to be grown up. We love being children, don't we, Pauline?" "Yes, yes," said Pauline. It was just then that her beautiful little bangle with its ruby heart flashed in the sun. Fanchon noticed it; it was so very like her own--so like, but with a marked difference. She could not help saying: "What a very pretty bangle you have got!" "Yes--isn't it?" said Pauline, but she spoke in a low voice, and pulled Fanchon a little aside. "Don't speak of it, please," she said. "I often feel that I oughtn't to wear it." "Do you, indeed?" said Fanchon, "I can't understand why. It looks most elegant, and it gives such tone, doesn't it, now?" "I don't know anything about that," said Pauline; "it is just a pretty little ornament. Mother gave it to me." "Well, I'm sure you ought to wear what your mother gave you. It must be so sweet to get presents of that kind; why don't you like to?" "I will tell you, if you'll not say anything about it, and at the same time, when I tell you, I want you to promise me something." Fanchon coloured with delight. Pauline belonged to the county, and there was quite a subtle difference between her and Miss Fanchon Amberley, which that young lady herself appreciated, struggled against, and detested, all at the same time. "Of course I won't tell," she said, "it is very nice of you to trust me. Have you a secret? It seems to me that most people have." "Oh dear, no; I haven't any secret in all the world," said Pauline. "I wouldn't; it'd be too horrid." "Then why mustn't I tell what you say?" "Because it would hurt my darling Nellie?" "Your sister?" "Yes."