“Landy’s sake!” gasped Amy, horrified.
But Jessie determined to take matters in her own hands for the time being, Mrs. Foley not being present. She immediately unrolled the bundle of things she had brought, and Henrietta halted on the step of the house, poised as though for flight, her pale eyes gradually growing rounder and rounder.
“Them ain’t for me?”
“If they fit you, or can be made to fit you, honey,” said Jessie.
“Oh, the poor child!” exclaimed Amy softly, taking care that Henrietta should not hear her.
“Silk!” murmured Henrietta, and sat down on the step again, put her arms out widely and 177 squeezed the silk dress up to her flat little body as though the garment was another baby.
“Silk!” repeated the poor little thing. “Miss Jessie! How good you are to me! I never did have a thing made of silk before, ’cepting a hair-ribbon. And I never had any too many of them.”