Transvestia

Evelyn sat pondering for a while, more than a little taken aback by his uncle's suggestion. He recalled vividly his skirted role in the play, but that had been on the stage, and now Uncle John was suggesting he should perform a real-life masquerade. Still, had he not deceived some strangers afterwards in the restaurant where they had gone to celebrate, and where he had been persuaded to go still dressed as a girl? Slowly he turned back towards his uncle from whom he had turned away a few moments ago, and his uncle, fearing a direct refusal, gave him a searching look. Evie spoke slowly and deliberately.

"I'll do it, Uncle, but only on condition that, when Aunt Amy has got back to Australia, you write and tell her the whole truth, that is, if she hasn't penetrated my disguise whilst here."

Uncle John couldn't see why there should be such an odd stipulation, but, overjoyed at Evie's agree- ment to impersonate a girl and so get him out of his trouble, he didn't press the matter. He said,

"Well done, Evie. I knew you'd not let me down. Now we have got almost four weeks in which to prac- tise you in your exacting role, and I don't intend to spare any expense in ensuring your success. I had a feeling that you'd agree I know you, Evie so I've already approached an ex-actress friend of mine, and, when she heard my story, she said she'd help me in my plan. She is Phyllis Compton, of whom you may have heard, and she lives not so very far away. I'll 'phone her, and I think she'll be round to-night."

And so it was that Evelyn met the woman who was to play an important part in his life for the next few weeks. She came to dinner that night, and after- wards she studied him thoroughly and with an amused smile playing about her lips. Quite impersonally, she enumerated his good and bad points. He was slim, slightly-built and not too tall; his features were