derisive gesture, Nancy said, "You're calling him 'Master Gerald' when he's wearing girls clothes! It's just too cute for words!"

me.

"Josie, please make her stop teasing Please!"

Gerald's anguished expression caused Josie to join in the merriment.

"Just remember what I said!" she admonished. "I'll be back in forty minutes or so to check up on you. Josie smiled at Nancy significantly.

"1

"I'll remember, Josie," he replied.

Josie minced out of the room in a flutter of swishing taffeta skirts.

"What did Josie mean by 'What happened last time?'" Nancy inquired.

000

"I I... I can't tell you," Gerald retorted, flushing crimson.

"You're just an old meany, Gerald! I ought to get Josie back here to force you to tell me. Oh, well, at least I can examine your wardrobe full of pretties'," she sighed. "That should prove to be a lot of fun."

46 -

Nancy was very thorough, entering his closet and admiring all the dainty frocks on their silk-padded hangers. She examined the row of pretty shoes and slippers, the coats and adorable bonnets, oohing and aahing all the time.

Then she went to his bureau and opened every drawer, taking out the sweetly frilled undies and holding them out before her to admire them.

Finally tiring of this, she sat down on his and patted the silken spread coyly to invite him to sit beside her.

With obvious reluctance, born out of fear of her unpredictability, Gerald arranged his skirts carefully and sat down at her side.

"Oh, Gerald, I wish I had a pretty room and oodles of lovely clothes like you do, Gerald," she said.

"You can have them all, for all I care," he replied.

She remained silent for a moment or so, studying him closely.

"There's some undies I haven't yet had a chance to see," she said finally.

47 -