"
"I think there is no danger, dear. But how is mother? Better?"
"Was she sick?" in surprise.
"Her headaches, you know."
"Oh, yes. I don't know whether they are better or not," carelessly. "I
didn't see much of mother while we were away. I played all day with Mrs.
Bremner's little girl. Except when we went shopping. I think she must be
better, for she did such lots of shopping."
Esther smiled. "Not very much, I think, Janie. Shopping takes money."
"But she did! I have lots and lots of new clothes. Only,"
discontentedly, "most of them don't fit. Mother could never be bothered
trying them on. She's got some lovely things, too. Dresses and hats and
piles of new shoes and heaps of silk stockings--"
"Jane, why do you say 'lots' and 'piles' and 'heaps' when you know you
are exaggerating?"
But there was a note of anxiety in the reproof nevertheless.
"I'm not exaggerating, Esther! She did. Even Miss Bremner asked her what
she was going to do with them all."
The elder girl's fingers tightened upon the small hand she held.
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