remember that we give it to you, not because you
have been so kind to Will, but because we care so very much for
your dear little self?

"Sincerely,
JESSIE FARRINGTON."

"My!" Phebe commented, when Theodora folded up the note. "I wish I had
somebody to be good to, Teddy McAlister. I'd like to earn a bicycle as
easy as you have."

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

For a week, Theodora gave herself over to the most violent gymnastics
she had ever known. For a week, she toiled and perspired and suffered
and was strong. Day after day, she patiently indented the floor and
walls of the riding school with every possible variety of tumble known
to aspiring humanity. Night after night, she counted her bruises and
anointed them with liniments. She tore her clothes, and knocked the skin
off one side of her nose, and rasped her temper. At the end of the week
she emerged, chastened and humbled, yet triumphant. She could ride her
bicycle.

The whole family came out on the lawn to see her mount. No one of them
but Hubert had ever mastered the intricacies of a wheel, and, in
consequence, they were loud in their advice.

"Why don't you ride here on the grass?" Hope suggested. "Then it won't
be so hard, if you fall off."

"I don't mean to fall," Theodora protested. "Besides, it's all down
hill."

"Huh!" Phebe sniffed with scorn. "It's easy enough to ride down hill. I
should think anybody could do that; shouldn't you, Isabel?"

But Isabel, who knew how to ride, prudently forbore to express an
opinion.

"Where are you going, Theodora?" Mrs. McAlister called after her.

"Out here, where the road is better."

"But we want to see you start."

"It's sandy here."

"What difference does that make?"

"Why, I can't push through such sand as that."

"How strange! I always thought you were so strong."

Theodora clashed her bell in a spirit of wild protest.

"How can I do anything, with you all standing here to criticise me?"

"Oh, Teddy, how selfish!" Hope's tone was rebuking.

"I don't care. Do go in!" she said petulantly, as she started to mount.

"Can't you mount any better than that, after all those lessons?" Phebe
asked, a moment later, as Theodora picked herself up from beneath her
wheel. "I know I could do better than that."

"Try it, then." Theodora faced her little sister hotly.

Phebe drew back.

"I'm--I'm going to the post-office with Isabel, and her mother told us
to hurry."

Allyn added his voice