Poor Lily! She was to learn more that day of the evils of procrastination in her own case.
Tom thought he had said enough to her now; and they went on together to the store where he wished to buy his dog-house. Here they chose one, and here also they purchased a collar for the puppy, Tom allowing Lily to pick out a red one, although he would himself have preferred blue. Was he not a kind brother?
As they were on their way home, they met Maggie and Bessie Bradford, with their Aunt Annie.
Lily rushed forward, letting go her hold on her brother's hand; and Maggie ran to meet her, almost as eager as she was.
"Is my proverb picture nearly ready?" asked Lily.
"Yes, quite," answered Maggie; "and we want you to come to our house, so we can explain it to you. We've just been to your house to ask you, but you were out, or else you could have come to take tea with us, if your mamma had said so. I wonder if she wouldn't just as lief you should come now. Can't Lily come with us, Tom?"
Tom had now come up to the little girls, and so had Miss Annie Stanton and Bessie; and, after taking off his hat to the young lady, he answered,—
"I think not to-night, Maggie. At least I do not like to take it upon myself to give her leave; for she had a bad sore throat yesterday, and I do not think mamma would like to have her out in the evening air."
Lily looked as if she were about to cry, and Maggie and Bessie also looked disappointed.