olet, and was now painting the horrors of the stormy
night outside the house where the two girls sat over the fire. Like most
girls of her age, Theodora had a natural talent for melodrama, and she
revelled in her description, as her pen raced over the paper. Pausing at
last to decide whether _lurid_ or _murky_ best described the night, she
caught Hope's eyes fixed on her steadily.

"What is it?" she asked abruptly.

"I was thinking it was about time you began to put up your hair," Hope
answered, rising and laying her hand upon Theodora's heavy braids.

The transition was sudden and sharp. Theodora had been feeling as if she
trod on air. Now the clouds seemed to part and let her drop into the
common clay. She shook off her sister's hand.

"I don't want to put up my hair," she said sharply.

"But you're old enough, and you would look so much better. Don't you
think so?" Hope appealed to her stepmother.

"I don't care how I look. I want to be comfortable." Theodora threw her
pen down on the table.

"But you're almost a young lady," Hope urged, with a quiet persistency
which exasperated Theodora. "You are really too old to wear two tails,
any longer."

"I don't care if I am!" Theodora exclaimed hotly. "It's neat, and it's
comfortable, and I intend to wear it like this till I get ready to put
it up. You can take care of your own hair, Hope McAlister, and I'll take
care of mine."

At best, Theodora was hot-tempered. To-night, excited by her attempt at
writing and tired with the unwonted effort, she flashed like a train of
powder. She realized, even in the midst of it, that her annoyance was
out of all proportion to the cause. Before she could control herself,
Hubert gave a new direction to her thoughts.

"If all you're after is comfort, Teddy," he drawled; "I'd advise you to
get a hair-cut. It's much the most comfortable thing you can find."

For the moment, Theodora was too angry to see the humor of his
suggestion.

"I will," she exclaimed. "Hope McAlister, if you say another word, I'll
have my hair cut off."

"Oh, Teddy dear!" Hope's hand was very gentle, as it touched her hair.
"You wouldn't do anything so crazy. Just see how pretty I can make you
look."

But Theodora jerked herself away, rushed out of the room and up to her
own room.

"I won't! I won't!" she said fiercely. "I hate Hope. She's jealous
because my hair is better than hers. I won't put it up. I'd rather cut
it off, myself, short off."

S