slid up into her hair and finally twisted itself about it in a turban. A
fresh night-dress descended about her; "to bed, now," said the voice.

The room was gray and cool within the lowered blinds; passively, Dolly
slipped in between the fresh white sheets; her head sank into the
crackling pillow. A little sob rose in her throat. "O, Auntie," she said,
"O-o-o."

"Not a word now!" the capable lady immediately broke in. "I know all
about it. You can tell it to me when you wake up. Go to sleep now."

It was a pleasant sort of violence; as a harness of flowers the obedience
of Dolly's childhood slipped again about her. She shut her eyes, then
like a puppy-dog snuggling to its mother, turned and dug her round little
nose into the pillow. A snifflet of a sigh sounded--and as it sounded
became the first long breath of sleep.

The Boston aunt stood some time by the bed, tall and straight like a
grenadier on watch. Suddenly she stooped down and placed a kiss upon the
curve of cheek emerging from the folds of the pillow. Immediately she was
erect again. "Poor darned little girl!" she said.

She paused again, out in the dining-room, her eyes far away. "_He_ tried
that once on me," she said reminiscently. A gleam of humor lit up her
gray eyes. "I fixed him," she said decidedly. And then, with some
tenderness: "Poor great big things," she said; "what chance have they
against us!"

Upon which she went into the kitchen where lay a pile of viscous dishes,
eloquent of the home's demoralization.

When Dolly emerged from her room some twenty-four hours later, her face
was pale and her little nose was red, and she seemed a bit dazed.

"Hello, Dolly," said the Boston aunt, looking up and giving the
sofa-cushion she was arranging a final thump; "hello, Dolly; come into
the kitchen and have some breakfast."

Upon the gas stove she toasted bread and poached two eggs, which she laid
before Dolly like two triumphant suns glowing through a fragrant haze of
coffee. Dolly successively suppressed the joyous acclaim which
instinctively rose from her whole being at the sight; but she ate. Rather
mincingly, of course; but still, on the whole, efficiently. At times she
closed her eyes, and then from beneath the lowered lids a few tears came
gliding without friction. "Now," said the aunt, after the last crumb of
toast had disappeared; "let's go into the other room and hear about it."

She led the way into that little room, which was fairly encu