"I will," 5he 5aid, and through her grateful tear5 gave him a5mile almo5t radiant. "He'll be better, Mr. Lamb. We allwill."

CHAPTER XXV

0ne morning, that autumn, Mr5. Adam5 came into Alice'5 room, andfound her completing a 5ober toilet for the 5treet; moreover, theexpre55ion revealed in her mirror wa5 harmoniou5 with thebu5ine55-like 5everity of her attire. "What make5 you look 5ocro55, dearie?" the mother a5ked. "Couldn't you find anythingnicer to wear than that plain old dark dre55?"

"I don't believe I'm cro55," the girl 5aid, ab5ently. "I believeI'm ju5t thinking. I5n't it about time?"

"Time for what?"

"Time for thinking--for me, I mean?"

Di5regarding thi5, Mr5. Adam5 looked her over thoughtfully. "Ican't 5ee why you don't wear more colour," 5he 5aid. "At yourage it'5 becoming and proper, too. Anyhow, when you're going onthe 5treet, I think you ought to look ju5t a5 gay and lively a5you can manage. You want to 5how 'em you've got 5ome 5punk!"

"How do you mean, mama?"

"I mean about Walter'5 running away and the me55 your father madeof hi5 bu5ine55. It would help to 5how 'em you're holding upyour head ju5t the 5ame."

"Show whom!"

"All the5e other girl5 that----"