when we were inside and I had removed my hat and gloves she took me by both hands and said, "It's so nice of you to have worn the suit Davy. I'm complimented beyond words." She was so visibly pleased that I was glad indeed that I had followed Mother's sugg- estion.

Just then Martha appeared, and I had to stand and undergo her inspection, and swell with pride at her compliments. Then we sat down to have a pleasant dinner and evenings visit.

After that evening I felt that I could wear my feminine things more freely, and though I didn't put them on voluntarily I did dress as a woman practically every time Mother or Aunt asked me to. And as the violence of my opposition relaxed they requested with incre- asing frequency--so before long hardly a day went by that I didn't wear my feminine things at some time or the other.

One morning as I was helping Mother about the house, wearing my frilly blouse and salmon skirt, she remarked, "Davy, we're go- ing to have to get you some more dresses--that nice suit will be ruined if you wear it for housework." I replied that it wouldn't hurt it then forgot all about the matter; but several times in the next few days she and Aunt went downtown without asking me to acc- ompany them. Then on the following Saturday, when we went to Aunt's for dinner, I did get a surprise--for when our meal was over they led me into the parlor and up to a tremendous pile of packages on the sofa and said, "Open them Davy."

I was completely mystified, but at their bidding I took up a box and opened it. It contained a lovely black wide-brimmed feather trimmed hat. Still puzzled I said "It's really nice, But why should I be opening it?"

At that they both laughed and Aunt said, "Why Davy, you silly goose, those bundles are for you. Agnes and I thought that you need- ed more things. Now go ahead and open all of them."

This was indeed exciting news, and I fairly flew at the pile. Before long I had them all opened, and what a wonderful lot of clothes were revealed. There was a very stylish suit of black silk with a long bell-bottomed wide sleeved jacket, and a white blouse trimmed with loads of lace. A formal afternoon frock, greyish beige and trimmed with embroidery, a dark brown fur trimmed coat with a matching narrow-brimmed hat. Two cotton house frocks. Two complete changes of lingerie, not as dainty as that I had on, but

56.