e did not know," she murmured apologetically. "She didn't know she was
doing wrong, they always sit on my bed. Tom, you had better come off, my
quilt is a clean one too."

In the silence that followed, Audrey grew uncomfortable. They had all
been so excited and happy a moment before, and now the room was full of
gloom. No one took any further interest in her box and what it contained.
She knew that she had been only right and Debby very naughty, that
children with dusty boots should not sit in the middle of clean white
quilts; but perhaps she could have spoken more gently. The children did
not know they were doing wrong.

Tom swung himself off the bed, and marched towards the door.
Audrey looked at his stormy face nervously. "This is for you," she said,
holding a tempting-looking parcel towards him.

For a moment he hesitated, evidently unwilling to accept it from her,
but his better instincts prevailed. "Thank you," he said, but coldly, and
laying it down without looking at it, he turned to Faith. "I am going to
look for Debby," he said, and went out of the room.

"What dreadful tempers!" Audrey, mortified by Tom's snub, grew angry
again. "They ought to be sent away to school, to a very strict school.
They would be taught, then, how to behave themselves!"

"They aren't really bad," pleaded Faith wistfully. "I think they were
hurt, you see Debby didn't know she was naughty, and--and they hardly know
you yet. They would not mind so much if they did."

"Well, I think their tempers are dreadful, and their manners too."
In her annoyance Audrey could not help speaking out the hard thoughts that
were in her heart.

"All red-haired people have hot tempers, they say," quoted Faith quietly,
"I know I have."

"Oh, well, I am glad I haven't."

"You! oh!" Faith glanced up at her sister with a comical little smile,
but she said no more.

"This is yours," said Audrey glumly, dragging a large parcel from her box.
"It is a blue coat like mine. Granny thought you might want one."

"Want one! I should think I did!" Faith sprang to her feet in a tumult
of excitement. "Oh, Audrey, I haven't had a new coat for three years, and
mine is so shabby and so small for me. How kind of granny to send me such
a beautiful present. I wish she was here now. I do so want to thank
her!"

Audrey stared at her sister, wide-eyed with astonishment. Not had a new
coat for three years! Why, that was nearly as long as she hers