When I told the girls it was Miss Coningham's birthday too, they unanimously proposed to give her a present, and ran to their rooms for their purses.
"There are just ten of us," said Enid, counting.
"Pass round a hat," said Ida.
"This will do," cried Sallie, seizing an India rubber shoe, and taking up the collection. "If you have little, give little, but if you've got a lot, give a good deal. Six dollars and ninety cents," said Sallie, counting it. "Now what shall we get?"
"Flowers? They fade so quickly."
"Let's get something she can keep."
"Well, what?"
"A gold thimble. You know hers rolled down the register, and was lost."
We agreed upon the thimble. Then Enid went to Miss Coningham, and gained permission for us to go down to the jeweller's. So the five other girls left the selection of the thimble to us, and went down stairs.
"Wasn't 'Cony' good?" said Sallie. "Little did she suspect our object."