"Maybe he will when he knows you better," remarked Adele consolingly. "Only you must not blame me if he likes me best." She loosened her hold on Bee and wandered about the room, looking first at one thing, and then another. Presently she gave a little scream of delight. "What a pretty hat!" she cried. "All white lace and pansies. Oh, Bee! Where did you get it?"
"I got it when I bleached my hair," said Bee in a low tone. "It is a pretty hat. Every one likes it."
"It's lovely," declared Adele, putting it on, and gazing rapturously at her image in the glass. "Doesn't it become me?"
"Everything becomes you, Adele, but this doesn't look any better on you than your own." Bee reached out her hand for the hat. "We must hurry. Father doesn't like to be kept waiting."
"Do let me wear it, Bee." Adele danced out of her cousin's reach. "Just see how nice it looks on me."
"I want to wear it myself, Adele. I want to look well when we go to Mrs. Medulla's."
"Don't be so selfish, Bee. You used not to be. You used to let me wear anything of yours that I wanted. What in the world has come to you? It doesn't make any difference what you wear."
"I don't think it's selfish for me to want to wear my own things," answered Bee with tears in her eyes. "You are not contented to let me keep anything. You have just as many pretty things as I have; yet you always want mine too."
"You are so superior to such things," remarked Adele, her lip quivering, her face wearing the tiniest aggrieved expression. "Nobody thinks of what you have on, but a poor little goosey like me has to be so careful. I won't wear the hat, if you don't want me to; but I think you might let me. You are getting awfully selfish."
Bee turned from her quickly and looked out of the window. Was she selfish? It was true that formerly she had not minded letting Adele wear her things. Why should she care now? A remembrance of Mrs. Medulla's words came to her: "A winsome and lovable personality is worth all the beauty in the world." After all, why should she permit a mere hat to upset her temper, and spoil her afternoon?