There was a long talk about it. Finally, Blanche was taken into their confidence, and persuaded to come with them to the nearest milliner's on their way home. But she was made to wait outside, whilst they went in and made their purchase.
It was a very grand shop indeed. Christina wondered at the audacity of the boys. She grew nervous and shy at the low giggling of the young lady assistants, as they produced various bonnets for the boys' inspection. Puggy and Dawn were perfectly equal to the occasion. They made the young women put the bonnets on, they tried them on themselves, and insisted upon Christina doing so.
"It's for an old lady, and she's not at all gloomy," said Dawn, "so we won't have a black bonnet. It must be a blue or pink one."
"Or one with cherries in," suggested Puggy, pointing to a small toque trimmed entirely of that fruit. "Now that's a lovely one, it makes me want to eat it! Do just put that on your head, Dawn, and let me get behind you, because I do sit behind Miss Bertha in church, and if they smell like cherries, I shall snap at them, I know I shall."
Christina did not like the cherry toque, it was too small she thought. After a great deal of talk they settled on one at last. It was a wonderful erection of red roses and black plumes. An obliging assistant said she would take out the black feather and ribbon and put in red instead, and Christina gave the address of the hotel. When the bill was handed to them, they saw it came to four guineas. None of them had asked the price, and none of them liked to say that they thought it dear.
"Perhaps you would rather pay on delivery?" the children were asked.
"Oh, yes," said Puggy grandly. "Send it up to-night without fail."
They walked out of the shop, then gazed at each other with blank feelings of despair.
"I've just half a crown more," said Dawn, "that will clear me out for good and all. I did think my new half-sovereign would have been enough!"
"Blanche, how much does a bonnet generally cost?" asked Christina tearfully.