"But these are holiday times," said Nancy. "All the world has a holiday in the middle of the summer."
"That's true enough," said Verena; "but then we had holidays for over a year, and Aunt Sophia says we must begin at once. She is quite right, I'm sure; although of course we scarcely like it. And anyhow, Nancy, she won't allow us to go to a midnight picnic; there's no use thinking about it."
"But suppose you don't ask her. Of course, if she's an old maid she'll refuse. Old maids are the queerest, dumpiest things on the earth. I'm really thankful I'm not bothered with any of them. Oh! here comes Pen. It's nonsense to have a child like that out of the nursery. We'd best not say anything before her. Verena and Briar, will you walk down to the gate with me? I thought perhaps we might have the picnic in a week. It could be easily managed; you know it could."
"Here's your cabbage-leaf. How red your face looks!" said Penelope.
Nancy turned and gazed at her. She was a bold-looking girl, and by no means pretty. She snatched the leaf angrily from Penelope's hand, saying:
"Oh, my dear, go away! How you do worry, jumping and dancing about! And what a stupid, good-for-nothing leaf you've brought! Fetch me one that's not completely riddled with caterpillar holes."
Penelope's black eyes flashed fire, and her face flushed.
"If you could you would what?" said Nancy.
A provoking smile visited the lips of the child. She danced backwards and forwards in an ecstasy of glee.
"I can punish you all fine," said Penelope; "and I'll do it, too."
She vanished out of sight. Now, it must be admitted that Penelope was not a nice child. She had her good points, for few children are without them; but in addition to being thoroughly untrained, to never having exercised self-control, she had by nature certain peculiarities which the other children had not. It had been from her earliest days her earnest desire to curry favor with those in authority, and yet to act quite as naughtily as any one else when she thought no one was looking. Even when quite a tiny child Penelope was wont to sit as still as a mouse in nurse's presence. If nurse said, "Miss Penelope, you are not to move or you will wake baby," then nurse knew that Penelope would not stir. But if this same child happened to be left with baby, so strong would be her jealousy that she would give the infant a sharp pinch and set it howling, and then run from the room.