"The seaside is doing the child no good," she thought. "I will take her straight back home. She is certainly not herself; she got a much greater shock than we knew of or had any idea of. When she gets home the sight of the other children and the old place will rouse her. She is not consumptive at the present moment. That is one thing to be thankful for. I shall take her to London for the winter. If going back to The Dales does not arouse her, she must go somewhere else, for roused she certainly must be."
Miss Tredgold, having made up her mind, spoke to Verena.
"We are going home to-morrow, Verena," she said.
"And a very good thing," answered the young girl.
"I do, Aunt Sophy. Pauline has got all she can get out of the sea at present. She does not love the sea; she is afraid of it. She may be better when she is home."
"And yet she is well," said Miss Tredgold. "The doctor pronounces her in perfect health."
"In body she is certainly well," said Verena.
"Yes, I have," replied Verena slowly. "There is some part of her stunned. I can't make out myself what ails her, but there is undoubtedly one part of her stunned."
"We will take her home," said Miss Tredgold.
The good lady was a person of very direct action and keen resource. She had whisked Pauline and Verena off to the sea almost at a moment's notice, and quite as quickly she brought them back. They were all glad to go. Even Pen was pleased. Pen looked very still and solemn and contented during these days. She sat close to Pauline and looked into her eyes over and over again; and Pauline never resented her glance, and seemed to be more pleased to be with Penelope than with anybody else.
The nice landau which Miss Tredgold had purchased met the travellers at Lyndhurst Road, and the first piece of news which Briar, who had come to meet them, announced was that the ponies had arrived.
"Peas-blossom and Lavender are so sweet!" she said. "They came yesterday. We are quite longing to ride them. As to Peas-blossom, he is quite the dearest pony I ever looked at in my life."
"Peas-blossom will be Pauline's special pony," said Miss Tredgold suddenly. "Do you happen to know if the sidesaddles have arrived?"
"Oh, yes, they have; and the habits, too," said Briar. "It is delicious--delicious!"