"I ain't goin' to have my hair cut off!" she wept. "Jes' leave it on this a-way."
Mrs. Wiggs commanded and Lucy entreated in vain. Finally Redding drew his chair up in front of the small girl.
"Australia, listen to me just a moment, won't you? Please!"
She uncovered one eye.
"You wouldn't want green hair, would you?"
A violent shake of the head.
"Well, if you will let Miss Olcott cut off all that ugly green hair, and give the pretty curls a chance to grow back, I'll give you—let's see, what shall I give you?"
"A doll-buggy an' dishes," suggested Europena, who was standing by.
"Yes," he said, "doll-buggy and dishes, and a dollar besides!"
Such munificence was not to be withstood. Australia suffered herself to be shorn, in view of the future tempering of the wind.