others; but he felt himself gradually drawing near to such a state.
Dolly's clothes were getting sadly in want of mending; there was scarcely
a fastening left upon them, and neither he nor Tony could sew on a button
or tape. It was a long time--a very long time--since his sister had been
to see him; and, with the reluctancy of old age to any active exertion,
he had put off from week to week the task of writing to her to tell her
of Susan's departure, and the charge he had in his little grandchild. He
made up his mind that he would do it tomorrow.

CHAPTER IX.

A NEW BROOM AND A CROSSING.

The morning was a fine soft, sunny December day, such as comes sometimes
after a long season of rain and fog, and Tony proposed taking Dolly out
for a walk through the streets, to which Oliver gladly consented, as it
would give to him exactly the undisturbed leisure he needed for writing
his letter to Charlotte. But Dolly was not in her usual spirits; on the
contrary, she was grave and sober, and at length Tony, thinking she was
tired, sat down on a door-step, and took her upon his knee, to tell her
his dream of the wonderful broom which swept beautifully all by itself.
Dolly grew more and more pensive after hearing this, and sat silent for a
long time, with her small head resting thoughtfully upon her hand, as she
looked up and down the street.

"Dolly 'ud like to buy a boom," she said, at last, "a great, big boom;
and gan-pa 'ill smoke his pipe again to-night. Dolly's growing a big
girl; and me must be a good girl till mammy comes back. Let us go and buy
a big boom, Tony."

For a few minutes Tony tried to shake her resolution, and persuade her
to change her mind. He even tempted her with the sight of a doll in a
shop-window; but she remained steadfast, and he was not sorry to give in
at last. Since the idea had entered his head that the money had been
given to him for the purpose of buying a broom, he had rather regretted
parting with it, and he felt some anxiety lest he should not be allowed
a second chance. Dolly's light-heartedness had returned, and she
trotted cheerfully by his side as they walked on in search of a shop
where they could make their purchase. It was some time before they
found one, and they had already left behind them the busier
thoroughfares, and had reached a knot of quieter streets where there
were more foot-passengers, for the fine morning had tempted many people
out for pleasure as well as busine