Pauline came a step nearer as she spoke. Her eyes were bright, and there was a red spot on each cheek.
"But although she is not born a lady, she is our friend," she continued. "She is the daughter of Farmer King, who keeps a very jolly house; and they have plenty of money. We have often and often been at The Hollies."
"Oh! we get delicious apples there," interposed Adelaide; "the juiciest you ever tasted--the cherry-and-brandy sort."
"I have never heard of that special apple, and I dislike its name," said Miss Sophia.--"Now come into the house, all of you."
She did not question them further. She walked on in front.
"I can't stand too much of this," whispered Briar to Verena.
But Verena said "Hush!" and clasped Briar's little hand as it lay on her arm.
They entered the house and proceeded to the pleasant schoolroom.
"It is now four o'clock," said Miss Tredgold. "At five tea is served. As the evening is so fine, I have ordered it to be laid under the cedar-tree on the lawn. For the next hour I expect close attention to lessons. I shall not stay in the room, but you, Verena, are monitress during my absence. Please understand that I expect honor. Honor requires that you should study, and that you should be silent. Here are your books. Prepare the lessons I shall require you to know to-morrow morning. Those girls who have not made due preparation will enter into Punishment Land."
"What in the world is that?" burst from the lips of the irrepressible Briar.
"Don't ask me," answered Miss Tredgold. "I hope you may never have a personal acquaintance with that gloomy country. Now farewell. For an hour fix your attention on your tasks; and adieu."
Never before had the Dale girls found themselves in such a quandary. For a whole long hour they were prohibited by a code of honor from speaking. They were all just bursting with desire to launch forth in a fiery torrent, but they must none of them utter a single word. Verena, as monitress, could not encourage rebellion. There are some things that even untrained girls, provided they are ladies, understand by intuition. The Dales were ladies by birth. Their home had belonged to their father's family for generations. There was a time in the past when to be a Dale of The Dales meant to be rich, honored, and respected. But, alas! the Dales, like many other old families, had gone under. Money had failed; purses had become empty; lands had been sold; the house had dwindled down to its present shabby dimensions; and if Miss Tredgold had not appeared on the scene, there would have been little chance of Mr. Dale's ten daughters ever taking the position to which their birth entitled them. But there are some things which an ancient race confers. _Noblesse oblige_, for one thing. These girls were naughty, rebellious, and angry; their hearts were very sore; their silken chains seemed at this moment to assume the strength of iron fetters; but during the hour that was before them they would not disobey Miss Tredgold. Accordingly their dreary books were opened. Oh, how ugly and dull they looked!