A neat, straw bonnet, with plain, unsoiled trimming, was brought
forth by the housekeeper, who remarked:

"It's good enough to wear Sundays, for that matter."

"I don't care if it is, I'm not going to wear it today. So don't
bother yourself any more about it."

"Oh, yes, Mary, you will," said Mrs. Arnold, very kindly, yet
firmly.

"No, I won't!" was the quick, resolute answer. And she gazed,
unflinchingly, into the face of her step-mother.

"I'll call your father, my young lady! This is beyond all
endurance!" said the housekeeper, starting for the door.

"Hannah!" The mild, even voice of Mrs. Arnold checked the excited
housekeeper. "Don't speak of it to her father,--I'm sure she doesn't
mean what she says. She'll think better of it in a moment."

Mary was hardly prepared for this. Even while she stood with
unchanged exterior, she felt grateful to her step-mother for
intercepting the complaint about to be made to her father. She
expected some remark or remonstrance from Mrs. Arnold. But in this
she was mistaken. The latter, as if nothing unpleasant had occurred,
turned to Florence, and after a light examination of her dress, said
to the housekeeper:

"This collar is too much soiled; won't you bring me another?"