“I is drefful unhappy, Iris,” said Diana, as she laid her head on her pillow.

“But you won’t be in the morning, Diana.  You’ll feel brave and strong and bright in the morning, just like the dear name mother gave you.”

“Oh, p’ease, p’ease, will you see that the spiders and beetles has somethin’ to eat?  They is so far from home, poor darlin’s, and they has come a drefful long journey, and they may be deaded in the morning if nothing’s not done for ’em.  P’ease see to ’em; won’t you, Iris?”

“Yes,” replied Iris.

“Very well.  Now, I’ll say my pwayers and go stwaight off to s’eep.  P’ease, God, b’ess Di, make her good girl.  Amen.  Good-night, Iris.”

The next moment the little girl had gone away into the world of happy slumber and innocent dreams.  She knew nothing whatever about what poor Iris, to her dismay, soon discovered, namely, that Simpson had marched off with the box which contained the spiders and beetles.  That box, with its contents, was never found again.  It was the straw too much, as Simpson expressed it afterwards.

CHAPTER IX.

THE PUNISHMENT CHAMBER.

The next morning matters began by being a little better, and might have gone on being so but for Diana.  The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.  It did not seem so very dreadful to Iris and Apollo to have cousins to walk about with and talk to.  Philip and Conrad, too, were fairly kind to little Orion; they took him round to see their gardens and their several pets.  Life was certainly prim at the Rectory compared to what it had been at the Manor; but children will be children all the world over, and when there is a bright sun in the heavens, and flowers grow at their feet, and a gentle breeze is blowing, it is almost impossible to be all sulks and tears and misery.  Even Diana was interested in what was going on.  She had never been away from home before, and she found it pleasant to watch the Dolman children.  As she expressed it, in her sturdy fashion, she did not think much of any of them, but still it amused her to hear them speak, and to take Ann’s hand and allow her to lead her round the garden.

Ann was extremely kind to her, but she only received a very qualified measure of approval from the saucy little miss.  Lucy and Mary she could not bear, but as Ann showed her all her treasures, and as Ann happened also to be very fond of animals, Diana began to chatter, and presently became almost confidential.  Suddenly, however, in the midst of quite a merry game of play, the little girl was heard to utter a shout.

“Where is my darlin’s that I brought from home?” she cried; “my three spiders and my four beetles?  I have not given none of ’em their bwekfus.  I must wun and fetch ’em.  Iris promised to see to ’em last night, so I know they isn’t deaded; but I must go this very instant minute to feed ’em, ’cos, of course, they wants their bwekfus, poor dears.  If you like I’ll show ’em to you, Ann; you can see ’em while they is eating.”