"But Miss Bertha has lots of shawls, and very nice tea," said Christina. "I wish we knew an old lady who would tell us what she likes. I wonder if Mrs. Bolland could tell us. Father said I might go and see her again."
"You ask Blanche," suggested Dawn; so Christina went across to her.
"Blanche, if you were an old lady, what would you like as a present?"
Blanche looked up a little impatiently from her book.
"Oh, a bonnet or a gown," she said, and Christina went back to the boys and repeated her words.
"The very thing," said Dawn. "We'll get her the most lovely bonnet. How much money have we got?"
They consulted, and found that between them they could manage thirty shillings.
Miss Bertha was dear to their hearts. As Puggy said, the Christmas holidays were rich times, and they determined that Miss Bertha should have the very best bonnet that London could produce. The next question was, where should they buy it and when?
"We mustn't have any grown-up person bothering us. Dad lets me go alone to any shop, but Tina's father is so waxy about her that she'll have to be left behind. You and me must choose it, Puggy."
Christina nearly dissolved into tears. "You won't choose it without me," she pleaded. "I really must choose it with you."