ut of the trunk in the garret, Connie. Don't you want some more
fudge? I put a lot of nuts in, especially on your account."

"It's good," said Connie, taking another piece. She examined the cloth
very closely. "Say, Prudence, isn't this that old brown coat of
father's?"

Fairy shoved her chair back from the machine, and ran to the window.
"Look, Prue," she cried. "Isn't that Mrs. Adams coming this way? I
wonder----"

"No, it isn't," answered Connie gravely. "It's just Miss Avery getting
home from school.--Isn't it, Prudence? Father's coat, I mean?"

"Yes, Connie, it is," said Prudence, very, very gently. "But no one
here has seen it, and it is such nice cloth,--just exactly what girls
are wearing now."

"But I wanted a new coat!" Connie did not cry. She stood looking at
Prudence with her wide hurt eyes.

"Oh, Connie, I'm just as sorry as you are," cried Prudence, with
starting tears. "I know just how you feel about it, dearest. But the
people didn't pay father up last month, and nothing has come in for
this month yet, and we've had so much extra expense.--I will have to
wear my old shoes, too, Connie, and you know how they look! The
shoemaker says they aren't worth fixing, so I must wear them as they
are.--But maybe after Christmas we can get you a coat. They pay up
better then."

"I think I'd rather wear my summer coat until then," said Connie
soberly.

"Oh, but you can't, dearest. It is too cold. Won't you be a good girl
now, and not make sister feel badly about it? It really is becoming to
you, and it is nice and warm. You know parsonage people just have to
practise economy, Connie,--it can't be helped. Take some more fudge,
dear, and run out-of-doors a while. You'll feel better about it
presently, I'm sure."

Connie stood solemnly beside the table, her eyes still fastened on the
coat, cut down from her father's. "Can I go and take a walk?" she
asked finally.

"May I, you mean," suggested Fairy.

"Yes, may I? Maybe I can reconcile myself to it."

"Yes, do go and take a walk," urged Prudence promptly, eager to get the
small sober face beyond her range of vision.

"If I am not back when the twins get home, go right on and eat without
me. I'll come back when I get things straightened out in my mind."

When Connie was quite beyond hearing, Prudence dropped her head on the
table and wept. "Oh, Fairy, if the members just knew how such things
hurt, maybe they'd pay up a little bet