“I will give you each thirty-five dollars. Will that answer?”
“We will make it, little mother;” I replied cheerfully.
We enjoyed shopping with our own money exceedingly. My dress was a dark green with a bronze tint; and a felt hat to match, with trimmings a shade lighter. Mamma gave us our gloves and some ribbons, and we felt very grand. Nelly’s dress was a gold and black waterproof.
We bought Mrs. Whitcomb’s under her very eyes, and smiled over her comments. But when she saw it the next morning with her name pinned on it, and “her dear friends, Mr. and Mrs. Endicott” as donors, her surprise and delight were good to witness. Fan declared that it was the most satisfactory of all.
Afterward we had a regular dress-making “bee.” Mamma cut, Mrs. Whitcomb and I basted, and Fan sewed on the machine. Miss Oldways insisted upon coming one day, and we had a bright, cheerful time. We made Mrs. Whitcomb’s too, though she said at first that we should not.
By this time it was the middle of October. We felt as if we had gained a march upon the season, shopping and sewing so early, and we were quite proud not to have taken papa’s money. The salary was not very large, and sometimes it required considerable planning to make it do. Mamma used to say it was the five loaves and the two small fishes among many, but we did often find a few fragments.
Mrs. Whitcomb had to say good-bye to us again. We fell back into our old routine. Fanny being at home regularly gave me much more leisure. We took up a course of reading with papa, and practiced our music daily. There were walks and calls and parish visiting, so we were not likely to be idle. The Churchills were very kind to us. Mr. Churchill took the office of church warden, left vacant by Mr. Fairlie’s death. He came over now and then to discuss church matters, and he did get a great deal interested in the children.
Miss Helen Ogden was married early in December and went abroad. Mrs. Ogden tried to persuade Miss Lucy to go to Florida with her, but she confessed that she had not the courage. Mrs. Fairlie and Kate found their loneliness insupportable, and were quite elated when she asked them to join her. They wanted Dick to accompany them, but he would not, declaring that he could not leave everything at loose ends.
Oddly enough, we rarely heard a word about Winthrop Ogden. He was in a Bank in New York. He had not made his second visit as proposed. We never said anything to each other concerning the love episode, mamma thought it best not to be talked about. And though through all the trouble and grief it had been impossible not to see Dick Fairlie frequently, he and Fan fell into pleasantly fraternal ways.—Mamma managed that there should be no awkwardness and but little chance for a repetition. She used to sit with us evenings and make Dick talk to her. Presently he became quite confidential with her. He had missed this peculiar mother love and interest in his own life, and it seemed as if he was hungering for it.
He improved unconsciously. He grew more manly and self-reliant. People began to call him Mr. Richard Fairlie, as they had called his father. He made little visits to cousins and one or two school friends, though he kept his house open with the aid of an excellent servant.