“Yes, indeed,” assented Annis. “Mildred,” turning to her sister, “you didn’t go shopping to-day?”
“No, we thought best to pay our calls first, and that took all the morning. We hope, though, to shop to-morrow.”
“Cousin Horace, will you allow your pupils to have a share in the shopping?” asked Annis half laughingly, turning to Mr. Dinsmore as she spoke.
“If the lessons have first been recited correctly,” he replied. “Mildred, will you allow me a share in that shopping?”
“Your company is always agreeable, Cousin Horace.”
“But he means more than that,” Annis said gleefully; “he and Elsie want to buy things for our box too.”
“And so you told them about it? though I begged you not to do so,” Mildred returned, reproachfully.
“You are not to blame her,” remarked Mr. Dinsmore, “it was no fault of hers. I wormed it out of her. But I don’t see, Milly, why you should wish to deprive us of the pleasure of taking part in such work?”
“Just because you and Elsie are both too generous, and must have plenty of other uses for your money.”
“My dear little lady,” he answered smilingly, “are not we the best judges of that?”