Partly on account of their talk with Peace; partly because of a certain uncomfortable acquaintance called conscience; partly because of their own good sense, the girls had tacitly made up their minds at least to make an effort to live together more happily.

In some degree they succeeded, but they were like people walking over a volcano; the trouble was not _quenched_; it lay always smoldering out of sight, ready at a moment's notice to flare up into angry flame.

The fault lay perhaps no more with one than another.

Gypsy had never had a sister, and her brothers were neither of them near enough to her own age to interfere very much with her wishes and privileges.

Moreover, a brother, though he may be the greatest tease in existence, is apt to be easier to get along with than a sister about one's own age.