“If I can earn it, mother, as sure as I sit here.”

“Well, the old cat will do more for you, Jack, than your mother would.  You shall have the money; but, Jack, I must bargain for the things.”

“Thank you, Nanny, thank you!” replied I, jumping off my seat with delight.

“Well, we can do nothing to-night, Jack.  Come to me on Monday, and if I don’t change my mind—­”

“Change your mind!” said I, sorrowfully.  “I thought you had promised!”

“Well, so I did—­and—­and I’ll keep my promise, Jack.  Come on Monday; and as you can’t go to church to-morrow, see if you can’t pick up a little money.”

I did not neglect her injunctions, and was fortunate enough to be able to bring her sixpence on the Monday morning.  Nanny went with me to the clothing-shop, haggled and fought until she reduced the articles to twenty-eight shillings, and then they were ordered to be made and sent to her house.  I earned but little money that week, and more than once Nanny appeared to be very unhappy, and repent of her kind offices; but when Sunday came she was very cheerful; she washed me herself very carefully, and then put on my clothes.  I cannot express the delight I felt at that moment; when Nanny said to me, as she placed the hat on my head: 

“Well, Jack, I wouldn’t have thought that you were such a handsome boy as you are.  Why, you may walk with your sister Virginia, and she will have nothing to be ashamed of, pretty as she is.  There, go and show yourself; and, Jack, don’t forget your promise to pay me back soon and give me good bargains!”

I repeated my promise and hastened to the hospital to find Peter Anderson.  He did not know me when I came up to him.  I told him how and why I had got the clothes; he patted my head, said I was a good lad, and that he would take me to the chapel at the hospital, where I could sit with the school-children; he could manage that.  Then I met Ben and others, and they were all so surprised.  I went to the chapel, and although I could not hear well what was said, for I was a long way off from the parson, and the old pensioners coughed so much, I was very much pleased, although a little tired before it was over.  When the service was finished, I was proceeding to my mother’s, when I met her and little Virginia coming home from the town church.

“There’s a nice little boy, Virginia,” said my mother; “wouldn’t you like to walk with him?”

My mother did not know me, but Virginia did immediately; she burst away from her mother and ran into my arms, laughing and crying as she clung to me, and then she cried out, “Mother, yes, mother, I will walk with him!” and she hastened me away with her, much to my mother’s annoyance, who would have run after us to stop her, but she didn’t think it genteel to go so fast; so Virginia and I went off together, leaving my mother very angry indeed.  We walked along toward the hospital, Virginia crying out to every one she knew, her large hazel eyes beaming with delight, “Look, this is brother Jack!” and I went with her to Peter Anderson and old Ben.  I was so proud to have my sister with me; and Peter Anderson said: