replied. "Why he looks like your sister--and he's almost as pretty as you. Davy, you look fine as a girl." Though Martha's approb- ation was pleasing, it was nevertheless embarrassing, so I stood silent while the two laughed and chatted about me.
Suddenly a voice behind me said, "Frances, what in the world have you done to my child?" I whirled, and there in the doorway stood Mother. Coming into the house without our hearing her, she had been standing there listening, and looking at me, or rather my back, for several minutes.
Aunt, laughing, crossed the room, kissed Mother, then said, "Why Agnes, you know I've always wanted a younger sister, and now I have one. Don't you think she's cute?"
"Why yes," replied Mother, "But how in the world did you ever get Davy to dress that way?"
"Oh that was easy," said Aunt, "I couldn't get you to help me fit a new dress, so when Davy came by I persuaded him to act as dummy, and that gave me the idea--for you see--I had to get him into a corset before the dress would fit."
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"Davy in a corset!" Shrieked Mother, bursting into gales of laughter, "Of course he would have to wear one to get that figure, but it just hadn't occured to me. By that time she was laughing so hard that it infected Aunt, who joined until they were both al- most hysterical. "My little boy Davy in a corset and a dress!" Laughed Mother, "I just can't get used to the idea."
"And oh yes," added Aunt, "He also has on my best chemise and bloomers." This sent Mother into another fit of laughter, while I stood praying that the ground would open and swallow me.
Finally the laughter ceased, and Mother, drying her eyes, said, "Come over where its light Davy so I can really see how you look." I followed her to the window and there she walked all about me viewing me from every angle.
After a moment Aunt asked, "Don't you think he really looks well that way Agnes?" Mother turned to Aunt, and after a moments hesitation said, "Why Frances I'm so amazed that I'm at a loss for words. Davy looks so feminine that I would never have recognized him if it weren't for his family appearance. If anyone had told me that my son could look like a girl--completely feminine--merely by dressing in girl's clothes, I wouldn't have believed them. Frances
49.