Alice smiled at Ellen's very wide-open eyes.
"What could you make for him?"
"I don't know that's the thing. He keeps his money in his pocket; and besides, I don't know how to make purses."
"There are other things besides purses. How would a watch- guard do? Does he wear a watch?"
"I don't know whether he does or not; he doesn't every day, I am sure, but I don't know about Sundays."
"Then, we won't venture upon that. You might knit him a nightcap."
"A nightcap? you're joking, Alice, aren't you? I don't think a nightcap would be pretty for a Christmas present do you?"
"Well, what shall we do, Ellen?" said Alice, laughing. "I made a pocket-pincushion for Papa once, when I was a little girl, but I fancy Mr. Van Brunt would not know exactly what use to make of such a convenience. I don't think you could fail to please him, though, with anything you should hit upon."
"I have got a dollar," said Ellen, "to buy stuff with; it came in my letter last night. If I only knew what!"
Down she went on the rug again, and Alice worked in silence, while Ellen's thoughts ran over every possible and impossible article of Mr. Van Brunt's dress.