rls to go in search of the wanderers. Not
until Bob and the phaeton appeared did news of Mollie's valiant deed
reach him. Then he went to her at once, and saw her pale and bloody.

But to display weakness now might be to lose all, reflected Mr. John;
so he kept back the words of sympathy that were on his lips as he
leaned down and offered to carry her to the phaeton.

"I prefer to walk, thank you," said Mollie, her pride giving her
strength to rise and take the arm which John, jr., stood ready to
offer. However, Mr. John forcibly made an exchange, and, in spite of
Mollie, half led and half carried her to the road.

"Don't be discouraged, Mollie," he said as he put her in, while Bob
was busy at the halter. "The next time you'll jump like a man."

"That nonsense is all over, thank you," said Mollie, very loftily,
though not very clearly, because of her swollen lips. "Think what you
please of me," she mumbled. "It is all ended; and it might have ended
sooner, too, if I'd taken better advice."

"With better advice it never would have ended, you contrary little
minx," said Mr. John to himself as she drove away.

The doctor came and Mollie was ordered to bed; but even his opiate
did not make her sleep. It was soothing, indeed, to lie there in the
twilight with her hand in her mother's, and feel that she was her
little girl entirely, no more to be her boy while life should last.
And pleasant visions of a Gothic school-house, where she should some
day be mistress of sweet, rosy-cheeked children, rose gracefully on
the ruins of her manly aspirations.

By and by the bell rang, and her mother brought a lamp, and a package
which Mollie sat up and opened. There, with a note pinned on the left
leg of her trousers and a box of Mollie's best-beloved candies clasped
on her jacket, lay Helena.

"I have never been to the ash-man's house, Mother Mollie," said the
note. "I have been visiting Mr. John's cuffs and collars in the
bureau-drawer. I want my girls' clothes on to-morrow. I claim it as my
right. We all have our rights. Put me in dresses and take me home to
the play-room. You have your rights too, and I wouldn't let any one
tell me that I hadn't a right to be a girl. It is my opinion that
if you had been meant for a boy you would have been made one. Come,
mother, cuddle me up, and let's go to sleep and have sweet dreams, and
a blithe waking to girlhood in the morning, when we will make up with
Mr. John; for he sends these ch