tepmothers were horrid, but I believe real
mothers are just as bad!" and she flounced out of the room.

"Letitia!" called her mother sternly, as she was about to slam the
door after her, "come back!"

She turned. "What do you want?" she snapped.

Mrs. Glover was very pale. Lettie had never seen her look so, and in
spite of her anger she was frightened.

"I think you need a lesson, my daughter," she said quietly, speaking
evidently with difficulty, almost in gasps. "I will let you try your
plan; you may do exactly as you choose for twenty-four hours; I shall
not see you again till it is over," and, rising, she went to her own
room, and locked the door.

Lettie stood as if stunned; she remembered, suddenly, what the doctor
had said, that her mother's health was precarious, that she must not
be agitated; and a feeling of dismay rushed over her; but a thought of
what her mother had refused her returned, and she hardened herself
again.

"I don't believe what the old doctor said, anyway," she muttered; "and
I'll have a good time for once! Oh! won't I!" as the thought of what
she would do came over her.

"In the first place," she thought, "of course I'll go on Stella's
moonlight excursion to-night; mother's objections are nonsense. I know
Stella's friends are a little wild; but they're awfully jolly all the
same, and I know we'll have lots of fun--and I do love a sail on the
river. I'll wear my new white dress, too," she went on, as the thought
of her perfect freedom grew upon her; "I don't believe I'll hurt it,
and if it is soiled a little it can be done up before Aunt Joe's party
that mother's so wonderfully particular about."

It was now time to start for school, but she at once decided not to
go. "I'll have a good time for once," she said, "and get rid of that
horrid grammar lesson. Now I'll go over to Stella's and tell her I'm
going;" and she went to her room to get ready.

"I won't wear this old dress," she said scornfully; "for once I'll
dress as I please; mother's so notional about street dress!"

In her own room she threw off the scorned dark school dress and
brought from her clothes-press a new light blue silk, just made for
her to wear on very special occasions. "I'll wear this," she said; "I
shan't hurt it; and I want Stella to see that other folks can have
nice dresses as well as she."

Hurriedly she put on the pretty dress and the ribbons that went with
it. Then, taking off her sensible street shoes