The twins laughed. Fairy smiled, but Prudence gazed at "the baby" with tender pity.
"I'm so sorry, dearest, but we haven't the money to buy one now."
"Will five dollars be enough?" inquired Connie, and she placed her crisp new bill beside her plate. The twins gasped! They gazed at Connie with new respect. They were just wishing they could handle five-dollar bills so recklessly.
"Will you loan me twenty dollars until after Christmas, Connie?" queried Fairy.
But Prudence asked, "Where did you get this money, Connie?"
"I borrowed it,—from the bank," Connie replied with proper gravity. "I have two years to pay it back. Mr. Harold says they are proud to have my trade."
Prudence was silent for several long seconds. Then she inquired in a low voice, "Did you tell him why you wanted it?"
"Yes, I explained the whole situation."
"What did he say?"
"He said he knew just how I felt, because he knew he couldn't go to church in his wife's coat.—No, I said that myself, but he agreed with me. He did not say very much, but he looked sympathetic. He said he anticipated great pleasure in seeing me in my new coat at church next Sunday."