"Of course you couldn't, and if you could, what a
sight you'd be. Of course it wouldn't hurt your
clothes as much as some, because your mother dresses
you in strong things, but you'd be sure to get black
and blue, and what would be the use, anyway?
You couldn't be a boy, if you did fight."

"No. I know I couldn't."

"Then what is the use? We are a good deal
prettier than boys, and cleaner, and have nicer
manners, and we must be satisfied."

"You are prettier," said Amelia, with a look of
worshipful admiration at Lily's sweet little face.

"You are prettier," said Lily. Then she added,
equivocally, "Even the very homeliest girl is prettier
than a boy."

Poor Amelia, it was a good deal for her to be called
prettier than a very dusty boy in a fight. She fairly
dimpled with delight, and again she smiled charm-
ingly. Lily eyed her critically.

"You aren't so very homely, after all, Amelia,"
she said. "You needn't think you are."

Amelia smiled again.