"You look dead tired; is anything the matter?" "I have a--a--headache," said Penelope, taking refuge in this time-honoured excuse for low spirits. "Poor thing! I expect you found the sun very hot at Marshlands. As to Nellie and Pauline--I call them a pair of salamanders; they can stand any amount of heat. They would insist on father taking them to Carlin sands to-day; and they came back fresher than ever. The rest of us stayed more or less in the shade, for I never remember the sun being so hot." "Come in, and have some supper, Pen; that'll do you good," said Pauline. Penelope said she would. They had now reached the house. She ran up to her own room. She bathed her face, washed her hands, and brushed back her hair. She tried to believe that the dreadful thing that had happened in the wagonette was a dream, that there was no such horror surrounding her, lying in wait for her, clutching at her very vitals. She would keep up at any cost for the evening. When the night came, she would be alone. Then she could think. Honora's voice was heard calling her. She ran downstairs. They all went into the long, cool supper-room. There a cold collation was spread on the table. "I won't let you go to Marshlands again," said Nora, looking critically at Penelope. "You're just as white as a sheet. It is much too tiring this hot weather. Your sister must come to us instead." Poor Penelope gave a little inward shiver. Pauline Hungerford nestled close to her. "I've something to whisper to you," she said. "Oh, no--not now," said Penelope. "Yes, but I must. They don't mind what we do at supper--we're all quite free at supper. It is this: listen. Mother's coming here early to-morrow--think of that!--And I do believe she is bringing a bangle, the same as mine, for Nellie! She didn't _say_ so in so many words, but I think she is. Then we'll be perfectly happy! Aren't you glad? I know I am. I've never half enjoyed my darling bangle at the thought of Nellie's sorrow. But Nellie has been very good lately, and hasn't talked about it a bit, or even once asked to look at mine. She wouldn't do that at first; she used to shut her eyes whenever she found herself forced to see it, just as though it gave her the greatest pain. I hate--and _hate_ wearing it. Mother said I must, for it would be so bad for Nellie if she didn't bear a thing of this sort well. But now, it's all right, and darling Nellie will be as happy as a sand-boy. Oh, I _am_ delighted!" "Paulie, you mustn't whisper any more," said Fred Hungerford at that moment. "Hullo, Pen!" he added, "I am glad to see you back. Did you and your sister stay much longer on the quay? and did you meet that low-down fellow, Jordan, again? I can't imagine how your pretty sister got to know him." "We didn't meet him any more," said Penelope, "and we went back to the _pension_ soon after."