CHAPTER IX

PRACTISING ECONOMY

It was a dull dreary day early in December.  Prudence and Fairy were sewing in the bay window of the sitting-room.

“We must be sure to have all the scraps out of the way before Connie gets home,” said Prudence, carefully fitting together pieces of a dark, warm, furry material.  “It has been so long since father wore this coat, I am sure she will not recognize it.”

“But she will ask where we got it, and what shall we say?”

“We must tell her it is goods we have had in the house for a long time.  That is true.  And I made this fudge on purpose to distract her attention.  If she begins to ask questions, we must urge her to have more candy.  Poor child!” she added very sympathetically.  “Her heart is just set on a brand-new coat.  I know she will be bitterly disappointed.  If the members would just pay up we could get her one.  November and December are such bad months for parsonage people.  Coal to buy, feed for the cow and the horse and the chickens, and Carol’s sickness, and Larkie’s teeth!  Of course, those last are not regular winter expenses, but they took a lot of money this year.  Every one is getting ready for Christmas now, and forgets that parsonage people need Christmas money, too.  November and December are always my bitter months, Fairy,—­bitter months!”

Fairy took a pin from her mouth.  “The velvet collar and cuffs will brighten it up a good bit.  It’s really a pretty material.  I have honestly been ashamed of Connie the last few Sundays.  It was so cold, and she wore only that little thin summer jacket.  She must have been half frozen.”

“Oh, I had her dressed warmly underneath, very warmly indeed,” declared Prudence.  “But no matter how warm you are underneath, you look cold if you aren’t visibly prepared for winter weather.  It’s a fortunate thing the real cold weather was so slow in coming.  I kept hoping enough money would come in to buy her a coat for once in her life.”

“She has been looking forward to one long enough,” put in Fairy.  “This will be a bitter blow to her.  And yet it is not such a bad-looking coat, after all.”  And she quickly ran up a seam on the machine.

“Here comes Connie!” Prudence hastily swept a pile of scraps out of sight, and turned to greet her little sister with a cheery smile.

“Come on in, Connie,” she cried, with a brightness she did not feel.  “Fairy and I are making you a new coat.  Isn’t it pretty?  And so warm!  See the nice velvet collar and cuffs.  We want to fit it on you right away, dear.”

Connie picked up a piece of the goods and examined it intently.

“Don’t you want some fudge, Connie?” exclaimed Fairy, shoving the dish toward her hurriedly.

Connie took a piece from the plate, and thrust it between her teeth.  Her eyes were still fastened upon the brown furry cloth.