But this—

The lure of letters was turned loud and seductive as the Blue Danube played on a golden flute by a boy king with his crown on!

Tess glanced up from her reading.

“How's your book?” she enquired.

“Oh, it's wonderful,” breathed Missy.

“Mine, too. Here's a description that reminds me a little of you.”

“Me?” incredulously.

“Yes. It's about the heroine—Phyllis. She's not pretty, but she's got a strange, underlying charm.”

Missy held her breath. She was ashamed to ask Tess to read the description of the strangely charming heroine, but Tess knew what friendship demanded, and read:

“'I am something over five-feet-two, with brown hair that hangs in rich chestnut tresses far below my waist.'”