ers marred in any degree the pleasure with which he
drew her hand beneath his friendly arm, he gave no token that it did so.
Christie gave a little sigh of satisfaction as she found herself out on
the street once more.

"I have got so many things to ask about," she said; "but I suppose I may
as well wait till we have done with the shops. If I once begin, I'm
afraid I shan't be able to attend to anything else."

The purchases were soon made. Indeed, Mrs Nesbitt's commissions had
not been very extensive. Christie had more to do on her own account.
But she had planned so many times just what she was to get for each one
at home, that it did not take her long to choose. Besides, her purse
was not one of the fullest. Still, the little she had to do involved a
good deal of running here and there; and her parcels increased in number
and size to such an extent, that Christie at last said, laughing, she
would have to forego the pleasure of taking them home herself, as her
box would never hold half of them; John would need to try to find room
for them in his.

"And are you not afraid they may call you extravagant at home, getting
so many braw things?"

Christie laughed.

"I'm no' sure. But then--unless it's Aunt Elsie's gown--there's nothing
dear. They are just prints; the frocks and the other things are all
useful, except perhaps the playthings for the bairns; and they are
useful too, for things that give pleasure have a use, I am sure."

"It canna be doubted," said her friend, laughing.

Christie's face grew a little grave, after a rather lengthened
examination of the pieces left in her purse.

"There is just one other thing; but I fear I ought not to have left it
to the last. It's for blind Alice. I have thought about it so long.
It's not very far, we might ask the price of it, anyway."

It was true, the place was not very far; but it was a shop of greater
pretensions than any they had entered yet. Christie had set her heart
on a musical-box, which she knew would be a treasure to the blind child.
But the cost! It was altogether beyond her means, even if she were to
stay another month.

The disappointment was very great.

"Allie must have something that she can hear, you ken; and I had no
thought that it would be so dear."

"Why not send her a bird--a real canary?" said John, as they made a
pause at a low window in a narrow street, where a great variety of cages
were hanging.

"A bird?" repeated Chris