Maggie said no more, but for the rest of the day she looked so troubled, and she and Bessie had such anxious whisperings, and there was so much feeling and touching of the tooth that was to be lost, that Mrs. Bradford told her husband that she should take her to Dr. Blake the first thing in the morning, that she might have no more time to think about it.
"Maggie," said Mr. Bradford, calling her to him just as he was going down town the next morning,—"Maggie, do you want to earn a dollar?"
"Oh, yes, papa!" and Mr. Bradford smiled as he saw the troubled face light up for a moment.
"You and Bessie are going to be great money-makers," he said. "You must not grow too fond of it, or learn to love it for its own sake. If, when I come home this afternoon, you have a little white tooth to show me, I shall pay you a dollar for it."
"And can I do what I like with it, papa?"
"Yes, whatever you please. You may spend it for Christmas presents or for something for yourself,—just which you choose."
But Maggie did not mean to do either. She thanked and kissed her father, and was off to tell her mother and Bessie.
"There's a whole another dollar for Mary's sack," she said, "now she'll have it all the sooner." And she kept up her courage very well till they drove up to the dentist's stoop. Then Mrs. Bradford felt the little hand she held squeezing her own very tightly, and Maggie looked up in her face with a quivering lip. "I have to think very much about Mary's sack not to cry, mamma," she said.
"You are my own dear, courageous little girl," said Mrs. Bradford, "and it will soon be over now." She was very sorry for Maggie, for she knew this was a hard trial for her, and wished very much that she could bear it in her place; but since this was not possible, all she could do was to help her to bear it bravely.