“‘O yes!’ said Nanny. ‘Will you buy it, mamma, or shall I?’
“‘You, darling.’
“And when they reached the shop Nanny looked round once more at her mother, and opening the shop-door with a very pleased and excited little face she marched up to the counter.
“‘If you please, sir,’ she said, laying me down on the counter. ‘I want something for a very poor little girl.’
“The baker was a large fat man, in the whitest of shirt-sleeves and aprons, and the blackest pantaloons and vest, over which hung down a heavy gold watch-chain. He put his hands on his sides and looked at Nanny, and then at me, and then at Nanny again.
“‘What do you want, my dear?’ said he.
“Nanny looked round at her mother to reassure herself, and repeated her request.
“‘I want something for a very poor little girl, if you please, sir. She’s sitting out in the street all alone.’ And Nanny’s lips were trembling at the remembrance. Her mother’s eyes were full too.
“‘What will you have, my dear?’ said the baker.