Had not her aunts any boys' stories? She liked them best. Upon which the five Misses Middleton looked at one another, and mentally held up their hands in horror and dismay. And soon, all too soon, was it discovered that the only things which really made Theodora happy were boys and boys' games and boys' books. Miss Middleton herself, in the solemn conclave which took place upon the morning when this story opens, was courageous enough to put the matter into words. "I verily believe," said she, "that our niece Theodora is what is called a--a tomboy!" "Sister!" cried they all, while four pairs of hands were uplifted and then dropped into four silk laps; and Miss Middleton, having made this statement, looked distinctly relieved. "And the worst of it," said Miss Joanna, "is that I strongly suspect we have brought it upon ourselves. In order to save ourselves the trouble of providing entertainment for Theodora, we actually suggested--one of us did--that she should be allowed to play with the Hoyt children." Here she glanced severely at her sister Dorcas. Miss Dorcas made no reply, but she looked guilty, and dropped a stitch in her knitting. "Dorcas forgot that they were all boys, I have no doubt," said Miss Thomasine, in her gentle voice. "We knew Ellen Hoyt when she was young, Joanna, you remember. As gentle a girl as ever lived." "Yes," rejoined Miss Dorcas, her courage returning when she found that she had a champion. "It was natural that we should suppose her children should be quiet and gentle too. I am sure I never dreamed that they were all boys." "It has been most disastrous," continued Miss Joanna. "But there is one resource left," suggested Miss Melissa. "You know, sisters, what Theodore's wife said--she spoke of it herself--I am sure we should never have thought of it." Miss Melissa had a vague, hurried manner which never failed to irritate her sister Joanna, who was brisk, and in other conditions of life would have been businesslike. "If you mean the boarding-school plan, Melissa;" she said, "why do you not say so in plain words? For my part, I think it would be the best place for the child." "Not if we can help it," pleaded Miss Thomasine. "She is our niece, you know, and I do not like the idea of closing our doors against her." "Thomasine, you are so extreme in your language," said Miss Middleton. "I am sure no one dreams of closing our doors against Theodora; but if we cannot control her, I quite agree with Joanna that it would be the best place for her."