cial barber to give advice and
consolation in the difficulty. Consolation was not forthcoming,
however, and the advice offered was by no means acceptable.

"You can't do nothing--there's nothing will be a bit of good," the man
said dolefully. "Whatever you do, it's bound to come. The wisest thing
would be to be shaved at once, and give it a start."

Sylvia fairly screamed with horror and consternation.

"Shaved!" she cried. "I? I go about with a bald head--a horrible,
bare, shiny scalp! I'd rather die! I'd rather--I'd rather--I'd rather
anything in the world! It's no use talking to me, Whitey; I will--not--
be shaved!"

"Very well, dear," assented Whitey easily. "Then you shan't. We will
just have a few inches cut off, and get a lotion to rub in to help the
growth. I daresay the old hair will keep on until the new appears, and
then you need never have the horrible experience of seeing a bald head."

"I never should see it in any case. I'd buy a wig and wear it night and
day. Nothing would induce me to look in the glass when it was off. I
should never respect myself again. And oh, Whitey, even at the best the
new hair will be ages growing, and it will be impossible to do anything
with it!"

"Not at all. You can wear it short and curly. It would look very
pretty, and suit you so well."

Whitey was aggressively cheerful, but Sylvia refused to be comforted.

"It would be hateful. I don't know anything more dejected-looking than
to see the back of a shorn head under a pretty hat. I won't _allow_ my
hair to fall out, and that's the end of it!"

"Well, p'r'aps it won't, after all, miss! We must 'ope for the best,"
said the barber cheerfully.

He and Whitey talked incessantly all the time the hair-cutting was
proceeding, with the fond hope of distracting the girl's attention; but
in naughty mood she refused to listen, insisted on sitting directly in
front of her glass, and was rewarded for her pains by catching a glimpse
of a bald spot on the crown of her head, which put the finishing touch
of depression.

When the doctor arrived for his morning visit, he found a most
melancholy patient, and held a serious consultation with nurse on the
staircase before departing.

"She seems very low and listless this morning. Can't you do something
to cheer her up? I am afraid we are going to have trouble with that
foot, and if she has to lie up again it will never do for her to get in
a melancholy conditi