So she decided, like the weather, that it was not grown-up to cry, and she dried her eyes. Then all at once she smiled and laughed outright. For an idea had come to her, which she proceeded to carry out. She certainly began to do some rather queer things. First of all she took off her shoes and stockings. Then she untied the pink ribbon which kept her hair tidy, so that her curls fell in a towsled mass about her flushed cheeks. Next she took off her pink overall pinafore, which she hid away; and gathering her white frock over her head, displayed a short red-and-white striped petticoat. Running quickly about the room she took all the violets from the vases, strewed some of them in the fold of her frock, which she held together in one hand, and put together a large bunch of the flowers for her other hand. Then she stepped through the open window, threw some sand upon her feet and ankles, and thus prepared, stood on the path outside, looked in, and waited. Very soon Wilfrid burst into the room, exclaiming-- "Come and look at the healthy colour I've painted on your big doll's pale cheeks. Oh, Norah!" he added, looking round the empty room. And now he became conscious of a little flower-girl standing on the garden path, and piteously offering him a bunch of violets. Norah had heard what he had said, and felt vexed that he had dared to touch her big doll; still, she had not the affection for that stately lady that she had for the small invalid doll with the broken leg, so she only said-- "Buy a bunch of violets, sir?" He was a tender-hearted boy, and at once fetched down his money-box from a shelf in the cupboard, unlocked it, and took out twopence which he gave her; but then he felt awkward and refused the flowers. An organ in the street started playing. "I can dance to that if you can pay," said the little girl thoughtfully, eyeing the money-box. "How much do you want?" he asked. "Three shillings," she replied boldly. "That's all I've got." "That'll do, then," she said; "I want it so badly." "Yes, but----" Not heeding his protests, she stole into the room and began to dance to the organ, as she had seen the poor children do in the streets, her little bare feet twirling up slowly and descending with measured steps on to the soft carpet. "Oh, I say!" soon exclaimed Wilfrid with dissatisfaction; "my sister Norah can dance better than that, for nothing!" Nevertheless, he felt bound to empty his money-box into the hand she now held out. Solemnly she made him a little bob of a curtsey. Then she began to caper about the room in a very different sort of spirit. And then, catching hold of the astonished boy round the neck, she kissed him. "Hi! Shurrup!" cried Wilfrid, disengaging himself and looking sheepish. "Oh, you April goose!" sang Norah; "April goose--you're an April goose, Master Wilfrid!" And she uncovered her head and shook back her curls. "Halloa!" exclaimed Wilfrid, ruefully at first, and then added more cheerily--