'Poor dears! I have found Alda crying when she was dressing for
church,' mused Mrs. Underwood; 'and though I have scolded her, I
could have cried too, to think how unlike their girlhood is to mine.'

'And if you went to fetch them home from school, you would know how
bad it is, Mamma,' said Felix. 'Wilmet does not mind it, but Alda
cries, and the sneaking girls do it the more; and they are girls; so
one can't lick them; and they have not all got brothers.'

'To be licked instead!' said Mr. Underwood, unable to help being
amused.

'Well, yes, Papa; and so you see it would be no end of a comfort to
make them look like the rest.'

'By all means, Felix. The ladies can tell how far your benefaction
will go; but as far as it can accomplish, the twins shall be
resplendent. Now then, back to your anxious clients. Only tell me
first how my kind old friend the Admiral is.'

'Here's his letter, Father; I quite forgot to read it.'

'Some day, I hope, you will know him enough to care for him
personally. Now you may be off.--Nay, Enid, love, your daughters
could not have lived much longer without clothes to their backs.'

'Oh, yes, it must have been done,' sighed the poor mother; 'but I
fancied Felix would have thought of you first.'

'He thought of troubles much more felt than any of mine. Poor