she held up a tangled snarl of yellow and green.

"All right," Mrs. Wiggs said promptly. "Whatever you say is all
right."

But Australia felt differently; her sobs, suppressed for a time,
broke forth afresh.

"I ain't goin' to have my hair cut off!" she wept. "Jes' leave it on
this a-way."

Mrs. Wiggs commanded and Lucy entreated in vain. Finally Redding
drew his chair up in front of the small girl.

"Australia, listen to me just a moment, won't you? Please!"

She uncovered one eye.

"You wouldn't want green hair, would you?"

A violent shake of the head.

"Well, if you will let Miss Olcott cut off all that ugly green hair,
and give the pretty curls a chance to grow back, I'll give you--
let's see, what shall I give you?"

"A doll-buggy an' dishes," suggested Europena, who was standing by.

"Yes," he said, "doll-buggy and dishes, and a dollar besides!"