fondest sister-kiss was pressed to the tear-stained cheek.

"My, what a goose I am!" suddenly exclaimed Tavia, springing up. "I
never was homesick or had the real blues in all my life, and I do not
propose to do the baby act now. So there," and she gave a hearty hug to
Dorothy. "I'm done with blubbering, and I'm more ashamed of myself than
I was the day I ran away after the row with Sarah. Now, I'll beat you to
bed, and to sleep, too, for that matter. We will have to do some tall
snoring to catch up with the rosy Rosabel--her cheeks will make ours
look like putty."

It was late, and Dorothy was glad to feel that Tavia had conquered her
homesickness, for that is what Dorothy insisted the attack was. It was,
however, the first--but the pain it left in Tavia's heart did not heal
at once, nor did it leave the spot unscarred.

Mrs. White had prudently left the girls to themselves, but now, by some
strange intuition she felt the "storm" was over, and sent a maid to ask
Dorothy if some crackers or an ice would not taste good. In replying the
girls discovered they were not the only ones up late, and presently the
entire party had assembled in the beautiful chintz dining room, and the
ices were being served between good-natured "jollyings."

"That hair cut went to your head," Ned told Tavia, "but wait until I go
down for the tresses, I'll scare Mike stiff--make him believe we thought
he had 'cribbed' them."

Tavia was entirely herself now, and had word for word with the jolly
boys.