"It is the eighth of December to-day, Molly dear," said Mrs Benson.
"Then I think I had better go and look round the shops."
"You will find a great variety of things at Fletcher's," said her mamma; "and if you like, you may go there all by yourself like a grown-up person."
This pleased Molly, and she put on her brown hat and started out with a little shopping bag that her Aunt Ruth had given her last Christmas. Her small purse was in the bottom holding her silver sixpence. Just as she reached the gate, she saw Julia Harding coming out of the big house opposite.
"Where are you going, Molly?" Julia asked. "I was coming over to play with you."
"I am going to do some shopping," said Molly.
"What are you going to buy?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know what you are going to buy?"