s git to
work."

Billy was despatched for turpentine; Lucy, with an apron pinned
about her, began operations on Australia's hair, while Redding sat
helplessly by, waiting for Mrs. Wiggs to make his coat presentable.

"I am afraid her hair will have to be cut," said Lucy, ruefully, as
she held up a tangled snarl of yellow and green.

"All right," Mrs. Wiggs said promptly. "Whatever you say is all
right."

But Australia felt differently; her sobs, suppressed for a time,
broke forth afresh.

"I ain't goin' to have my hair cut off!" she wept. "Jes' leave it on
this a-way."

Mrs. Wiggs commanded and Lucy entreated in vain. Finally Redding
drew his chair up in front of the small girl.

"Australia, listen to me just a moment, won't you? Please!"

She uncovered one eye.

"You wouldn't want green hair, would you?"

A violent shake of the head.

"Well, if you will let Miss Olcott cut off all that ugly green hair,
and give the pretty curls a chance to grow back, I'll give you--let's
see, what shall I give you?"

"A doll-buggy an' dishes," suggested Europena, who was standing by.

"Yes," he said, "doll-buggy and dishes, and a dollar besides!"

Such munificence was not to be withstood. Australia suffered herself
to be shorn, in view of the future tempering of the wind.

"You orter been a hoss-trainer, Mr. Bob," said Mrs. Wiggs,
admiringly, when the deed was accomplished; "yer voice jes' makes
folks do things!"

"Not everybody, Mrs. Wiggs," he said grimly.

"Where do you suppose Billy's went with the turkentine? I declare
that boy would be a good one to send after trouble! Oh, you ain't
goin' to try an' wear it this a-way?" she said, as Redding insisted
on putting on his coat.

As he turned to the door, a light hand touched his arm. Lucy
unfastened the violets at her belt, and timidly held them toward
him.

"Will you take them--to Dick?" she faltered.

He looked at her in amazement. For a moment neither spoke, but her
eyes made the silence eloquent; they told the secret that her lips
dared not utter. There are times when explanations are superfluous.
Redding threw discretion to the winds, and, regardless of Wiggses
and consequences, took the "Christmas Lady" in his arms, and kissed
away the year of grief and separation.

It was not until Mrs. Wiggs saw their trap disappear in the twilight
that she recovered her speech.

"Well, it certainly do beat me!" she exclaimed, after a fruitless
effort to reconst