The old wooden box that had been repainted and repaired by Jack was a perfect treasure-trove to Eliza and her mother, and both were disappointed when Fanny showed so little interest in their work.
When her father came home, Fanny greeted him eagerly with the words—
"I see you can mend boots better than ever, daddy. Eliza's do look nice!"
"Ay, it was about all I could do for the lass," said Mr. Brown.
"Could you mend a pair for me?" said Fanny, coaxingly.
"Lor' bless the girl! I thought you said I cobbled them when you went to your fine new place," he added, with a laugh, as he kissed Fanny a second time.
"But you haven't cobbled Eliza's," said Fanny; and she seated herself beside her father at the dinner-table, and persuaded him to undertake the repairing of her boots before the meal came to an end. Having thus succeeded with her father Fanny turned her attention to her mother and Eliza. "I don't see that you will want a best frock at the seaside," she said to her sister, as they wandered out into the garden and then to the fields beyond.
"Aunt said the stuff was to make me one," said Eliza, wondering whether she ought to let her sister have it.
She never remembered having a new dress. Hers had always served her sister first, for when Fanny had outgrown them, they had been done up and called new for her. She therefore wondered now whether she would have to give up her aunt's present that Fanny might have the first turn with the new frock. Fanny tried hard to persuade Eliza that this was the best way of disposing of their aunt's gift, assuring her that she would take great care of the new dress, and only wear it for best, and at last wrung a promise from Eliza that, if their mother was agreeable, this plan should be adopted.
While they were in the fields, Jessie Collins joined them. She was still waiting for the blacking factory to open, although she was far less keen about going there than she had been when she saw Fanny the last time she was at home.