d do you two
girls mean to tell me that neither will say which is Dora?"

"That is exactly what we have agreed upon," said one of the twins,
quietly.

"Then, let me tell you, Miss, I shall find out for myself!" exclaimed
the angry lady. "I consider you at fault for this, Lemuel. Shows your
bringing up. It is sheer impudence!"

"I--I have washed my hands of it, Dora," said her brother, weakly.

"Well, you can wipe 'em, too!" snapped the lady. "But I mean to take
Dora home with me when I go back--and that will be very soon," and she
whisked away in her rustling skirts, leaving the father and his two
daughters alone.

They twined around the little man in a moment, the two winsome, loving
girls--one upon one side, the other upon the other.

"You don't want to lose Dora, do you, dear?" demanded Dorothy.

"Nor Dorothy either?" demanded Dora.

"I certainly do not, my dear girls," cried the much harassed Mr.
Lockwood.

"Then we shall not tell her. We shall tell nobody. Nobody shall know
which is which--as long as Aunt Dora remains, that is sure," cried Dora.

"Exactly," agreed her sister. "As long as papa doesn't wish us to
go----?"

"Never!" declared Mr. Lockwood.

"Why, we're never even going to get married!" ejaculated the other twin.

"Of course not," said her sister. "There couldn't possibly be two men
just alike, and they'd have to be just alike to please us for husbands."

Mr. Lockwood laughed. It was the first happy sound he had made in two
hours. His sister had arrived exactly two hours before.

"I know I can safely leave the whole affair to you girls," he said,
gratefully. "Have it out with your auntie, if you must. But do, _do_
leave me in peace."

CHAPTER VII

HOW TO GET A NEW SHELL

The Lockwood twins were members of the executive committee of the Girls'
Branch of Central High and that Saturday an important meeting was to be
held in one of the school offices. So Dora and Dorothy stole away after
supper, with only a word to Mrs. Betsey as to their goal. They did not
want any more words that night with their aunt, who had sat, like a
graven image (providing a graven image has a very hearty appetite) all
through the evening meal in an attitude of great offense.

The committee, whose actions had to be passed upon by Mrs. Case, the
physical instructor, and Franklin Sharp, principal of the school,
numbered among its members Laura Belding and her chum, Josephine Morse;
Nellie Agnew, Dr. Ag