"Eat your meat, Missy," adjured mother. Missy tried to obey and felt
that she was swallowing lumps of lead.

But in the afternoon everything miraculously changed. Kitty Allen
and her mother came to call. Kitty was her chum, and lived in the
next block, up the hill. Kitty was beautiful, with long curls which
showed golden glints in the sun. She had a whim that she and Missy,
sometimes, should have dresses made exactly alike-for instance, this
summer, their best dresses of pink dotted mull. Missy tried to enjoy
the whim with Kitty, but she couldn't help feeling sad at seeing how
much prettier Kitty could look in the same dress. If only she had
gold-threaded curls!

During the call the party at the Bonners' was mentioned. Mrs. Allen
was going to "assist" Mrs. Bonner. She suggested that Missy might
accompany Kitty and herself.

"I hadn't thought of letting Missy go," said Mrs. Merriam. "She
seems so young to start going out evenings that way."

"I know just how you feel," replied Mrs. Allen. "I feel just the
same way. But as long as I've got to assist, I'm willing Kitty
should go this time; and I thought you mightn't object to Missy's
going along with us."

"Oh, mother!" Missy's tone was a prayer.

And her mother, smiling toward her a charming, tolerant smile as if
to say: ."Well, what can one do in the face of those eyes?" finally
assented.