sense," said Maria. "You won't die, and it will all come out
right. Don't worry anything about it or think anything more about it.
Why don't you wear your red dress to school to-day? It is pleasant."

"Well, perhaps I had better," Evelyn said. She threw back her hair
then, but still she did not look at Maria.

She arranged her hair and removed her little dressing-sack before she
looked at Maria, who had seated herself in a rocking-chair beside the
window. Aunt Maria always insisted upon getting breakfast without any
assistance. The odor of coffee and baking muffins stole into the
room. Evelyn got her red dress from the closet and put it on, still
avoiding Maria's eyes. But at last she turned towards her.

"I am all ready to go down," she said, in a weak little voice; then
she gave a great start, and stared at Maria.

Maria bore the stare calmly, and rose.

"All right, dear," she replied.

But Evelyn continued standing before her, staring incredulously. It
was almost as if she doubted Maria's identity.

"Why, Maria Edgham!" she said, finally. "What is the matter?"

"What do you mean, dear?"

"What have you done to yourself to make you look so queer? Oh, I see
what it is! It's your hair. Maria, dear, what have you strained it
off your forehead in that way for? It makes you look--why--"

Then Maria lied. "My hair has been growing farther and farther off my
forehead lately," said she, "and I thought possibly the reason was
because I covered it. I thought if I brushed my hair back it would be
better for it. Then, too, my head has ached some, and it seemed to me
the pain in my forehead would be better if I kept it cooler."

"But, Maria," said Evelyn, "you don't look so pretty. You don't,
dear, honest. I hate to say so, but you don't."

"Well I am afraid the pretty part of it will have to go," said Maria,
going towards the door.

"Oh, Maria, please pull your hair over your forehead just a little."

"No, dear, I have it all fixed for the day, and it must stay as it
is."

Evelyn followed Maria down-stairs. She had a puzzled expression.
Maria's hair was diverting her from her own troubles. She could not
understand why any girl should deliberately make herself homely. She
felt worried. It even occurred to wonder if anything could be the
matter with Maria's mind.

When the two girls went into the little dining-room, where breakfast
was ready for them, Aunt Maria began to say something about the
weather, then she