18.

reflected in her expression, then she realized why I had said it and the anger was replaced by a smile which dis- appeared as he turned toward her.

He said, in a tone of voice which recognized the ex- istance of all feminine peculiarities, "Well, I guess if you can't tell any other way K--will just have to put up with it for a few days. He's going to have to dress as a girl too, for it would be fatal otherwise. But both of you must be sure that no one recognizes him for that would be even worse. Now I really mean that." And with that he gave me a pat on the head which expressed all the sympathy in the world for my supposed plight.

Mother answered him, "You may be sure that we'll see to it he's not recognized. Fact is he looks so different I hardly think there is a chance. And, of course, I won't keep him in all that agony too long. But dear, don't you think he really looks remarkably well?"

Tosher ending question, Dad replied, "As far as I'm concerned he looks a damn sight too well. Why in the world couldn't he have been larger and more masculine looking?" "Oh, Goodness", said Mother. "What do you want? ▲ son that looks like a truck driver? I like him a lot bet- ter this way."

"For your purposes, you would," Dady retorted, "but nobody else would."

The exchange was about to get hot, but Mother caught hold of herself in time and dropped the subject. Dad then went outdoors and as soon as he was out of sight Mother said to me, after giving me a hug, "You certainly put me over a barrel dear, but I don't mind a bit for it's the perfect answer.

H

It had been nothing less than an inspiration on my part, for Dad, thoroughly sympathetic with my plight, never- theless wished to comply with Mother's wishes. At dinner there was a general discussion of the best policy, based on Dad's assumption that it would only be for a few days,