"Poor Marj! It's a hard case; for time's money, and you haven't any of either," remarked Howard.
"Wait a minute!" she answered, starting from her chair, and pacing up and down the room, as was her habit when much absorbed. "I'm getting hold of an idea."
"Hold on, then, and don't let it go," advised Ned, dodging the sofa pillow that Marjorie hurled at him.
"Listen!" she commanded imperatively. "It's really and truly a good plan. You know we haven't any too much money, for we all of us spend our allowances faster than we get them; but let's begin to save, and put it all together, till by and by we can send him something."
"Good, Marjorie! What a splendid idea!" exclaimed Allie, fired with zeal at the thought.
"But, I say," remonstrated Howard; "how long are you going to keep up the scheme? I can save like a house afire, for a little while; but Christmas is coming, and I've promised to give Allie a rubber doll, and charity begins at home, you know. I'm willing to help on your lad for a month or so; but let's put a limit to it."
"I didn't think you'd be so stingy, Howard," said Marjorie, turning on him a gaze of virtuous sorrow.
"'T isn't stingy," retorted Howard; "it's common sense. I 'm as sorry for him as you are; but I think we'd better go easy on it a little, and see how we come out."
"Let's try it for a month," interposed Allie hastily, for she saw that Marjorie was growing indignant. "If we save all we can, we shall have a good deal by that time. What shall we get him?"
"A whole set of Henty's books," suggested Ned promptly.