because there was nothing upon which they
could exercise themselves, now awoke in their old vigor, and with Mrs.
Cliff's good sense, reinforced by her experience gained in wandering
among the treasures of Paris, the results of the shopping expedition
were eminently satisfactory. And, with the plan of the new building,
which Mr. Burke carried always with him, everything which was likely to
be needed in each room, hall, or stairway, was selected and purchased,
and as fast as this was done, the things were shipped to Plainton, where
people were ready to put them where they belonged.

Willy Croup was not always of service in the purchasing expeditions, for
she liked everything that she saw, and no sooner was an article produced
than she went into ecstasies over it; but as she had an intense desire
to see everything which New York contained, she did not at all confine
herself to the shops and bazaars. She went wherever she could and saw
all that it was possible for her to see; but in the midst of the sights
and attractions of the metropolis she was still Willy Croup.

One afternoon as she and Miss Barbara were passing along one of the side
streets on their return from an attempt to see how the poorer people
lived, Willy stopped in front of a blacksmith's shop where a man was
shoeing a horse.

"There!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with delight, "that's the
first thing I've seen that reminds me of home!"

"It is nice, isn't it!" said gentle Miss Barbara.

CHAPTER XIII

MONEY HUNGER

During the latter part of their sojourn in the city, Willy went about a
good deal with Miss Barbara because she thought this quiet, soft-spoken
lady was not happy and did not take the interest in handsome and costly
articles which was shown by her sister. She had been afraid that this
noisy bustling place would be too much for Miss Barbara, and now she was
sure she had been right.

The younger Miss Thorpedyke was unhappy, and with reason. For some
months a little house in Boston which had been their principal source of
income had not been rented. It needed repairs, and there was no money
with which to repair it. The agent had written that some one might
appear who would be willing to take it as it stood, but that this was
doubtful, and the heart of Miss Barbara sank very low. She was the
business woman of the family. She it was who had always balanced the
income and the expenditures. This adjustment had now become very
diffic