Then Auntie said quietly: "I can't do it, dears.

I gulped. "Would you like us hair, Auntie Jem?"

to cut one another's

Again a pause. Then; "That was good of you, Rob- in. And very loyal, because I know how you've both been dreading this moment. But I don't think we need to cut it off af ter all: there's no law against boys hav- ing long hair not even at University. And besides, as you're going towards a special stage career, it'll be a wonderful gimmick for you. Of course, if you appear as boys with long hair it may mean that you'll have to prove your man! ood as well as your girlhood but per- haps that might be a good thing after all.

And so it was settled. We kept our long tresses intact, to our intense delight. Auntie Jem rented a house for the three of us, right on the boundary of the University grounds, and we all went there to live.

When Pat and I began our first day at the Univer- sity there were muttered comments and low, derisive whistles when we entered our first class. But we said nothing. At our second class the process was repeated, and again at our third class, and at our fourth. But we said nothing, did not retaliate in any way until the day's classes were over. Then we strolled about the grounds, discussing the day's work.

We were approached by four undergraduates, a year senior to ourselves, who were keen to show off before their girlfriends. They stood in front of us, say- ing nothing to us directly, but making sneering com- ments about our hair to one another. We noticed that other undergraduates were watching carefully, but we pretended to notice nothing. We moved away, towards the goldfish pond. The sneerers followed us. We still paid no attention. They drew closer. We kept on talk- ing about the lessons of the day. They jostled us. We moved on a little, One of them pulled me by my plaits; another tried to cut Pat's hair off.

We threw the four of them into the goldfish pond, and went on quietly talking. Hirosake had taught us