was her imagination. "No it's not. If you don't cheer up I'll in- sist that you dress as a woman again, for you never said one sharp word the entire time you were wearing Frances's things." My heart leaped as I realized this was a possible excuse to wear my feminine clothing, but openly I ridiculed her suggestion.

I woke early the next morning and lay in bed trying to work my courage up to the point where I could wear my feminine things, but I was still too afraid of ridicule and an expose of my real thoughts. I called myself all sorts of names--but in vain, and the more I tried the more despondent I became. When Mother came in to wake me I was in a terrible humor and quite rude to her.

She became quite angry and said, "Now look here Davy, I'm not going to stand for your vile humor any longer. You get right up and put on the clothes Aunt gave you--perhaps that will make you behave."

Pleased at her tirade, but trying not to show it, I got up and started to dress without saying a word. My salmon skirt and ruff- led blouse were hardly suitable for that time of day, but that really made no difference--for at least I was getting to dress as I wished.

Finally dressed, I went down to breakfast, and when Mother saw my face she said, "You don't hate those clothes Davy. For if you did they wouldn't cheer you up the way they do."

I didn't reply, but happily sat down and ate to the tune of Sue's compliments. I wore the clothes all day--putting on the jacket at dinner time, and all the while I was so happy that Mother remarked again and again at my improved disposition, and vowed that she would treat me the same way every time I got out of sorts.

As a matter of policy, I kept cheerful the next day, thus avoiding any trouble with Mother, though I longed for my other clothes.

"

In the middle of the afternoon Aunt called and asked us for dinner. We accepted then Mother said to me, "Frances would be de- lighted if you would wear your new clothes. I debated--torn be- tween desire and fear--but desire won, and some time later when we left for Frances's I wore my salmon suit.

When Aunt, opening the door, saw me, she fairly shrieked with pleasure, threw her arms about me and kissed me veil and all, and

55.