"Perhaps they think the more clothing they wear, the better the heat will be kept out," said their mother, who heard what they were talking about.
"Here is the shop I was looking for. We will go in."
She led the way into a sort of cave cut into the soft rock. It was a dark, dingy little place. There were shelves around the sides of it. In the middle was a sort of counter, where the storekeeper sat with his goods around him.
As Esther's mother entered, he slowly took his pipe from his mouth and stopped his gossiping with a friend who sat outside on the pavement. He was in no hurry, however. He acted more like a king on his throne than a trader who had to sell cloth for a living.
"Yellow plush, is it?" he asked. "Ah! I have some beautiful, beautiful. It is the very thing."
But his customer was not easily satisfied, and after she had finally picked out the piece she wished, there was a long talk about the price. Both were satisfied at last. The plush was cut off and wrapped up, and the storekeeper was left to his own pleasure.
Esther's mother still had some errands to do, so they visited several other stores. They were not all in caves, however, but most of them were small and dark.
At last, everything needed was purchased and the lady and children started homeward.
"Look at the sky," said Esther. "Isn't it beautiful to-night?"