Meg glanced at the three crowded round the little table, and left them with a happy heart.
Mrs. Blunt busied herself with some work Meg had left for her, and it did not seem long before she came back, accompanied by Cherry carrying a long-shaped parcel.
"Look!" she exclaimed, spreading it out on the table, "just look what mother-Meg has bought for me! Here's some dark blue serge for my best frock, and stuff for two aprons, and a new hat. I never saw such a lot o' things in my life."
Then Meg unrolled her parcel, and there was a ready-made jacket for Dickie, and stuff like Cherry's for a neat little frock, and a hat, which Meg put down on his table in front of him, guiding his soft hands to feel its shape and newness.
"For me?" asked Dickie. "What a nice lickle hat!"
"See if it fits you," said Meg, placing it on his head.
Cherry was delighted; and then Meg turned to the table to begin cutting out, so that no time might be wasted.
"Does he never run about?" whispered Mrs. Blunt, glancing towards Dickie.
"Not yet," answered Meg, in the same tone.
But the children's society was very attractive, and before long they noticed that Dickie stood up of his own accord, and even went so far as to feel his way round to the other side of his table.