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"No, not unless you want to, she replied, "but if you do not want to then please change into your boy's clothes."

Without answering I went to my room and changed into my boy's clothes. I simply did not have the nerve to go to the front door in my dresses. Within an hour, however, I had changed my mind and regretted not having done so, and I told Mother of my regret.

"I must admit I was surprised when you changed back into your boy's clothes," she said, "you look so nice in your dresses, and I thought you were beginning to become accustomed to your pretty girl's clothes."

"The next time, I intend to go to the door no matter who is there," I promised, "may I wear my dresses again?"

"Yes," she replied, "I did not intend to require you to anything at all, I simply do not want you to be ashamed of being seen in dresses if you are going to wear them at all. As long as you are modestly dressed there is no reason for you to run and hide."

Joyfully I returned to my feminine clothes, and, inevitably the test came again: the doorbell rang! I had on my white or- gandy princess style dress with a pink ribbon sash tied in a big bow at the back. I went to the front door, and opened it, and found Mrs. Russell, our neighbor from across the street.

"My, how nice you look," she said, "is Mother here?"

"Yes, Mrs. Russell," I replied, "won't you come in, and I will tell her you are here.

"

Mother was in the kitchen, and I went and told her that Mrs. Russell was waiting for her in the living room.

"That wasn't so hard, now was it?" Mother asked.

Mother went to the living room to greet Mrs. Russell, in- structing me to prepare refreshments consisting of lemonade and cookies, and to bring it in and serve it in a few minutes. It took me about ten minutes to prepare the refreshments, after wh- ich I served it on a large tray.

"How nice!" Mrs. Russell exclaimed, "I would love to have

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