“This,” she informed her astonished aunts and Milly, bowing low in what she fondly imagined must be true Chinese style, “is my seagoing costume. Sun Li likes me in it, and it’s certainly heaps more comfortable than anything I’ve ever worn before. I feel so—so free and light, somehow—something the way cutting off my hair made me feel. Now, please don’t say I mustn’t, Aunt Charity,” she pleaded, coming over to the low deck chair where Miss Charity was reclining luxuriously. “Just look at the lovely silk, and see all the wee, tiny, patient stitches in the embroidery! And look at my beads! I’ll hurt Sun Li’s feelings if I don’t wear them—and, besides, here on board, who’s to see and disapprove, except just us?” With a little laugh of mingled amusement and defeat, Miss Charity nodded acquiescence, glancing apologetically at her sister-in-law as she did so. But Mrs. Folger, too, was smiling indulgently, and made no protest. “Oh, why not, sister?” she asked. “Let the child have her fun dressing up—all children love that. It will please the poor Governor, too, and there seems so little we can do to thank him properly for this fine trip he is giving us.” “Besides, of course,” Miss Charity agreed, further, finding evident comfort in the thought, “this is his idea of what a proper, well-brought-up little Chinese girl ought to wear, so really I suppose Erica might as well be happy.” Late that night, when she and Milly were getting ready for bed, Erica drew out the teakwood chest Sun Li had had placed in her cabin, and unlocking it, showed the other the dazzling array of silks, crêpes, and heavy embroidered materials that filled it. “You sew so wonderfully, Milly,” she offered, “that if you would like to have a real Chinese costume like mine to wear on board, just pick out the silk you like and make it.” But Milly, breathless with admiration of the lovely shimmering fabrics, only shook her head at the suggestion. “I’m not——daring, like you, Ricky,” she said. (Since the night of the reconciliation between the two girls when Milly’s secret had come out, the latter had taken to using the twins’ name for her of “Ricky,” instead of the rather stately “Erica.”) “I couldn’t wear such clothes, though they’re awfully pretty. They look, somehow—well, just right on you. But”—she hesitated and drew a wistful sigh, her black eyes anxious and a little shy—”but, I’d _love_ cutting into some of that beautiful silk and sewing on it. Oh-h, Ricky, I’ve never even _handled_ such stuff before in my life! Couldn’t—couldn’t I make some of it up into a dress for you on this trip?” Erica considered thoughtfully. “I don’t believe Aunt Charity would let me wear a dress of such gorgeous silk. I’m afraid it really wouldn’t—fit into Nantucket.” She, too, sighed wistfully. Then a quick glance at her jade-green trousers and long tunic-coat brought the smile back.