Charlotte laughed.  “Bless your heart, child, doesn’t it cost money to buy materials?  And I do all the sewing I can possibly make up my mind to in helping to keep the twins from falling out of their clothes.  You never saw such holes.”

There was a long silence while Charlotte lay still, apparently trying to go to sleep, and Ruth’s forehead puckered itself into wrinkles as she wrestled with a weighty problem.

Suddenly Charlotte opened her eyes.  “Look here, Ruth,” she said bluntly, “I didn’t mean to come over here and tell a tale of woe about not having any money, and I’m ashamed because I have.  Please forget all about it.”

“Oh, Charlotte,” cried Ruth, dropping scissors, thimble and spool with a clatter as she got up from her chair.  “Oh, Charlotte, I wish you would let me do something I want very much to do.”

As she spoke Ruth threw herself on the couch beside Charlotte and put her arms about her.  Charlotte, who was most undemonstrative, was vaguely comforted by the friendly embrace, and to her own surprise found herself returning it.

“Charlotte,” pleaded Ruth, “I’ve really more money than I need for Christmas presents this year, for Uncle Jerry sent me a check to use just as I please.  Now won’t you let me give you your present now, and give it to you in money, so that you may have the fun of using it before Christmas?  Oh, oh, don’t you dare say a word yet if you can’t say yes,” she said fiercely, putting her hand over Charlotte’s mouth, and in her anxiety pressing so hard that Charlotte gasped for breath.

“Don’t you see what a pleasure you’d be giving me?” Ruth went on.  “I do so love to give people what they really want, and it’s so hard to know.  And there won’t a soul know about it except us, and I’m dying to have a secret with some one.”

Charlotte couldn’t help laughing, Ruth’s manner was so funny and anxious.  “Thank you very much, Ruth, but I really couldn’t,” she said at last decidedly.  “They wouldn’t be my presents if I used your money for them; and besides, it makes me feel as though I’d no business to complain to you as I’ve done.”

“Oh, Charlotte, they will be.  It won’t be my money, for I shall give it to you to use just as you please, and what’s the good of having a friend if you don’t tell her your troubles once in a while?”

Charlotte was silent and troubled, but she smiled a little at Ruth’s mixed-up sentences.  Ruth thought this was a good sign and rushed on without giving her a chance for a positive refusal.

“Don’t you suppose I know how hard it is for a proud old thing like you to do it?  But I’m just selfish enough to try to tease you into it because it’s going to be such a favor to me.  Do, Charlotte, that’s a dear.”

With Ruth’s arms tightly around her, and Ruth’s brown eyes looking at her with mischievous pleading, Charlotte found it difficult to be disappointing.  “Well—­” she said at last.