her, not undeservedly, and she knew
that further praise was in store from the dearest source of
approbation--from her mother. Ah! how pleased she would be! And so
would Darling, who always cried when Madam Liberality was in great
pain.

And this was only the beginning of pleasures. The sixpence would
amply provide "goodies" for the Christmas-tree, and much might be done
with the forthcoming shilling. And if her conduct on the present
occasion would not support a request for a few ends of candles from
the drawing-room candle-sticks, what profit would there be in being a
heroine?

When her mother gave her two shillings instead of one, Madam
Liberality felt in honour bound to say that she had already been
rewarded with sixpence; but her mother only said,

"You quite deserved it, I'm sure," and she found herself in possession
of no less than half-a-crown.

And now it is sad to relate that misfortune again overtook Madam
Liberality. All the next day she longed to go into the village to buy
sweetmeats, but it snowed and rained, and was bitterly cold, and she
could not.

Just about dusk the weather slightly cleared up, and she picked her
way through the melting snow to the shop. Her purchases were most
satisfactory. How the boys would enjoy them! Madam Liberality enjoyed
them already, though her face was still sore, and the pain had spread
to her throat, and though her ideas seemed unusually brilliant, and
her body pleasantly languid, which, added to a peculiar chill
trembling of the knees--generally forewarned her of a coming quinsy.
But warnings were thrown away upon Madam Liberality's obdurate
hopefulness.

Just now she could think of nothing but the coming Christmas-tree. She
hid the sweetmeats, and put her hand into her pocket for the two
shillings, the exact outlay of which, in the neighbouring town, by
means of the carrier, she had already arranged. But--the two shillings
were gone! How she had lost them Madam Liberality had no idea.

She trudged through the dirty snow once more to the shop, and the
counter was examined, and old Goody looked under the flour scales and
in the big chinks of the stone floor. But the shillings were not
there, and Madam Liberality kept her eyes on the pavement as she ran
home, with as little result. Moreover, it was nearly dark.

It snowed heavily all night, and Madam Liberality slept very little
from pain and anxiety; but this did not deter her from going out with
the first dayl