CHAPTER XIV.
QUEEN HESTER "Kit's my bestest birthday present," declared Marjorie, as they sat together in the veranda swing the morning after the party.
Kitty pulled her sister's curls in absent-minded affection, and remarked, thoughtfully: "Mopsy, I don't seem to care much for that red-headed Hester girl." "She's a queer thing," Marjorie returned, "but I sort of like her, too.
You see, Kit, she has a fearful temper, and she can't help being spiteful." "Oh, fiddlesticks, Mops! Anybody can help being spiteful if they want to." "No, she can't, Kit.

She flies into a rage over nothing.

And then she's sorry afterward." "Will she be at the Sand Court thing, or whatever you call it, to-day ?" "Yes, all the club will be there.

Come on, let's go." The sisters ran down to Sand Court and found King and the Craig boys already there.
"Old Crosspatch hasn't come yet," observed Dick, after they had all said "Hello!" "Dick," said Midget, "I wish you wouldn't call our Sand Witch such unkind names." "Well, she _is_ a crosspatch." "Well, never mind if she is.

Don't let's call names, anyway." And then Hester arrived.