izzie do then? This was what the aunts would say, shaking their
heads. Mrs. Bagley, when she said anything at all in her own defence,
declared that poor little Lizzie had no one to look to her, neither
father nor mother, and that if her own granny didn't take her up and do
for her, who should? And that, besides, she did very well with her
dressmaking. But nevertheless, by time, Mrs. Bagley had her own
apprehensions too.

Minnie and Chatty were fond of making expeditions into the shop, as has
been said. They liked to have a talk with Lizzie, and to turn over her
fashion-books, old and new, and perhaps to plan, next time they had new
frocks, how the sleeves should be made. It was a pleasant "object" for
their walk, a break in the monotony, and gave them something to talk
about. They went in one afternoon, shortly after the events which have
been described. Chatty had occasion for a strip of muslin stamped for
working, to complete some of her new underclothing which she had been
making. The shop had one large square window, in which a great many
different kinds of wares were exhibited, from bottles full of barley
sugar and acid drops to bales of striped stuff for petticoats. Bunches
of candles dangled from the roof, and nets of onions, and the old lady
herself was weighing an ounce of tea for one of her poor customers when
the young ladies came in. "Is Lizzie at home, Mrs. Bagley?" said Minnie.
"Don't mind us,--we can look for what we want; and you mustn't let your
other customers wait."

"You're always that good, miss," said the old woman. Her dialect could
only be expressed by much multiplication of vowels, and would not be a
satisfactory representation even then, so that it is not necessary to
trouble the eye of the reader with its peculiarities. A certain amount
of this pronunciation may be taken for granted. "If all the quality
would be as considerate, it would be a fine thing for poor folks."

"Oh, but people with any sense would always be considerate! How is your
mother, Sally? Is it for her you are buying the tea? Cocoa is very
nourishing; it is an excellent thing for her."

"If you please, miss," said Sally, who was the purchaser, "mother do
dearly love a cup of tea."

"You ought to tell her that the cocoa is far more nourishing," said
Minnie. "It would do her a great deal more good."

"Ah, miss, but there isn't the heart in it that there is in a cup o'
tea," said Mrs. Bagley. "It do set a body up when so be