The shopkeeper knew the children, and guessed it was for some charitable object. "Is it for your own baby brother?" he asked prudently.
"No; it is for a poor little girl who has been left an orphan."
"Well," said he pleasantly, "I have something very nice here—a remnant—how much were you to spend?"
"Three shillings, and a shilling for some narrow velvet," said Arthur; "I'm afraid it will not buy anything very nice."
"I should be pleased to let you have this remnant for that money, for a little orphan," he answered, "if you will allow me to help to that small extent. And do you think a couple of yards of flannel would be acceptable?"
So the children returned home delighted with their parcel, and unfolded before their mother's appreciating eyes sufficient warm, soft, grey french merino to make a beautiful winter pelisse, displaying also the nice piece of flannel which would be so useful too.
"How very kind of Mr. Thorne!" she said.
That evening, while Arthur read to them, Ada and Mrs. Arundel proceeded to cut it out, and all hands set to work to get it made. It was to be very plain—"none of your grand furbelows," Arthur had said, and Mrs. Arundel's taste said the same; the little motherless babe should be very quietly dressed.
In two days, the busy fingers had finished it. "Ada will be quite a seamstress," said her mamma; "I never thought she would be so industrious."
Arthur and Ada went together to Sunnyside to see it put on the baby. Two weeks of good air and plenty of food had already told upon the little creature, and in its clean clothes and comfortable surroundings, it looked its best when introduced for the first time to Arthur.