you," said granny decidedly.

The proprietor of the shop came up. "Now, I am sure, Mrs. Dawson,
you must want something for the master?" he urged smilingly.

"No, I don't," said granny. "Thomas has got to make the best of what
he has got. All I want now is a cup of tea, and I must go and get
it, and see about making our way home."

"Well," said Mr. Binns, "I am sure this little person can find a use
for one of these," and he picked up a little silk scarf with a flower
worked in each corner, and laid it across Jessie's shoulders.

Jessie looked up, speechless with delight. "Well, I never!" Mrs.
Dawson exclaimed; "now, that is kind of you, Mr. Binns. I'm sure
Jessie'll be proud enough of that, won't you, Jessie?"

"Oh yes, thank you," said Jessie earnestly. "I'll--I'll only wear it
for best."

At which Mr. Binns and Mrs. Dawson and the pleasant-faced girl all
laughed, Jessie didn't know why, and then granny said "good-bye," and
she and Jessie made their way out into the street. The afternoon sun
was fading by this time, and the shadows had grown long.

"I do want my tea badly, don't you?" said granny again.

"Yes," sighed Jessie, for she was really very tired, "but it doesn't
matter," she hastened to add. It was what she used to say to her
mother to comfort her when there was little or no food in the house.

"But it does matter," said granny decidedly; "we have a longish walk
before us, and we shan't get anything for another couple of hours or
so, if we don't have it now. So we'll go and have a nice tea at
once. Come along," and she led the way further down the street until
they came to a baker's shop, from which there floated out a delicious
smell of hot cakes and pastry.

Behind the shop there was an old-fashioned, low-ceilinged room with
small tables and chairs dotted about it. At one of these Mrs. Dawson
and Jessie seated themselves, and soon a kindly-faced woman brought
in a tray with a brown teapot of tea, a jug of milk, and a goodly
supply of cakes and bread and butter.

Jessie had never been in such a place before, and she felt there
could be nothing grander or more interesting in the whole world.
In the shop outside people were coming and going, and one or two came
in and seated themselves at other little tables, and Jessie sat and
watched it all with the greatest interest, while she ate and drank as
much as ever she wanted of the nice bread and butter and fascinating
cakes.

"I wish mot