"
And she brought forward a little coat such as Dick had never seen
before. It was of yellow, with a scarlet collar, facings and cuffs,
there were two little red wings at the shoulders, and two little red
tails at the back; and the buttons were of brass with a number in Roman
letters upon it. Dick was not sure of the number, for he had not yet
quite mastered Roman letters, and could never find the Psalms in church
except by remembering the day of the month. Then she bade him take off
his wet jacket, hung it near the chimney to dry, and helped him into
the little coat, which was really not much too big for him. Dick
turned himself round and strutted with delight in a way that set Elsie
laughing in spite of her weariness; but the old woman smiled rather
sadly, turned back the red cuffs, as the sleeves were rather too long
for Dick, and pinned a shawl over the coat so that it could not be
seen. She became cheerful again, however, and said: "But you'm hungry,
my little lady. Now what shall I get you to ate?"
"Please may I have some bread and butter?" asked Elsie; but the old
woman shook her head. "I have got neither bread nor butter," she said;
"but think now--a bit of porridge and a drop of milk, and a bit of
honey--how will that do? Jan!" she called out.
The idiot came in grinning at the children, but she shook her finger at
him and made a sign, at which he nodded and went out again.
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