"Going to do some shopping too, Lily?" he asked, as he saw what she was doing.
"No," said Lily, "this is for a poor woman downstairs. Don't you want to give her something too, Tom? And do you think mamma would let me give her a loaf of bread? She's not a common beggar: she says she's not; and she has six children, all starving, just about as big as me."
"Miss Lily," said Nora, starting up, "now what have you done with her? Where is she?"
"Oh, you needn't be afraid, Nora," answered Lily. "I was very careful, and told her to stay outside, on the stoop, 'cause I remembered how Maggie let a man come in the house, and how he stole her papa's new overcoat while she went upstairs. I took very good care of her, and told her she couldn't come in, 'cause every one was upstairs or downstairs. Shall you give her some money? and can I have the bread, Tom?"
"Wait till I come down and see the woman," said Tom, who knew that Lily's sympathies were too apt to run away with her judgment.
Lily waited with what patience she might for a moment or two; but it seemed to her that Nora's fingers moved very slowly.
"Tom," she said presently, "couldn't you come and see the woman while Nora finishes the coat? You know those children must be growing starveder and starveder every minute."
Tom laughed, but consented; and, taking her hand, was about to lead her from the room, when Nora stopped her.
"Miss Lily," she said, "you took away my large scissors this morning, and I need them to cut out some work. Will you bring them to me before you go down again?"
"You find them, please, Nora," answered Lily. "They're somewhere in my baby-house."