"No; but if we get these ready, mother says the frocks may come in good time; and so, as I am not going to school, I can mend these ready," said Eliza, with quite a happy look on her pale, delicate face.
Like her sister Minnie, she had the fullest confidence that her mother would manage "somehow," and that the neatly mended, outgrown clothes would go with her to the seaside after all. So she sat and sewed and darned, while Fanny told all about her visit to the school. She agreed to carry her father's tea to the factory that her sister might keep on with her work. Then they had their own tea, which Mrs. Brown contrived should be a happy, merry meal; for she did not want Fanny to feel that they were not all very glad to have her at home for her holiday, and she was very sorry that anything had occurred to spoil the day they had all looked forward to with so much anticipation.
Of course it was Fanny's own folly that had caused all the unpleasantness. Mrs. Brown did not hide this fact from herself, nor could she feel otherwise than disappointed that her Fanny, whom she was so proud of, had been both foolish and selfish in spending all her first wages before she reached home, to know whether any of the money was required for the others.
But there should be no more said about it, Mrs. Brown was determined; and so, when they set out on their walk this evening, she said, in a cheery tone—
"Now, you musn't worry yourself about Eliza, what is done can't be helped, and I think I shall manage to get her what she wants if father has to work later two or three times. I have got enough, I think, to make her two white aprons like yours, for Aunt Mary sent me a nice long length for you, when she heard that you had got a place. She sent me ten shillings, too, towards getting your new things, so that I cannot ask her to help me with Eliza's as well."
"And, then, I was always her favourite," put in Fanny, "so, of course, she would like to help me."
"Oh yes, of course," said her mother, with a smile.
"If aunt sent you ten shillings and all that stuff for aprons I can't owe you much, can I, mother?" said Fanny; for she was thinking just then of the large sum of money she still owed for that watch. And if she was in debt to her mother too, whenever would she be able to buy herself a new best dress?
Her mother was a little startled at the question.
"In debt?" she repeated. "I never thought of it in that way. We have always been ready to help each other, and I thought when you were able to earn money for yourself, you would like to help the rest of us."