, carpeted and warm and bright, into which the rooms
opened. Matilda paused when she got to her own, and stood by the rails
thinking. The twenty dollars had not at all taken away her regret on
the subject of Letitia's dress; rather the abundance which came pouring
in upon her pricked her conscience the more with the contrast between
her own case and that of her sister, which a little self-denial on her
part would have rendered less painful. Mrs. Laval had unwittingly
helped the feeling too by her slight treatment of the matter of the
boots; it appeared that she would never have known or cared, if Matilda
had got the objectionable square toes. Judy would; but then, was Judy's
laugh to be set against Letitia's joy in a new dress? a thing really
needed? Matilda could not feel satisfied with her action. When she
bought those boots, she had not done it according to her motto; that
was the conclusion.

She came to that conclusion before she opened the door of her room; but
then she took up the consideration of how the mischief might be
remedied; and all the while she was dressing and putting away her
walking things, her head in a delightful bustle of thoughts tried
different ways of disposing of her money. She must consult Norton; that
was the end of it.

"Well," said Norton, when she had a chance to do this after dinner,--"I
see what is before us; we have got to go into all the stores in New
York between this and Christmas; so we had best begin to-morrow.
To-morrow we will go-- Do you know what sort of things you want, Pink?"

"Only one or two."

"See now. You must have something for everybody. That is, counting
great and small, six persons in this house. Any beside?"

"O yes; but I know what to do for _them_, Norton; at least I shall
know; it is only these that trouble me."

"What will you offer to grandmamma?"

"I just don't know, Norton! I can't even imagine."

Norton pondered.

"Hollo, Davy!" he cried presently. "You and Judy come over here. I want
to talk to you."

Judith and her brother came over the room to where Norton and Matilda
were. Judith sat down, but David stood waiting.

"The thing is, friends and relatives," Norton began, "how and by what
measures we can jointly and severally succeed in distinguishing
ourselves, in the matter of our Christmas offerings to Mrs. Lloyd. I
want your opinion about it. It is always nearly as much bother as
Christmas is worth. The old lady don't want anything, that I