For the adaptation of their seniors' last year's garments had
not proved so successful as not to have much grieved the good girl
and her mother.
Elvira's money had all gone into an accordion, and a necklace of
large blue beads.
"Didn't you get anything for your grandfather or your cousins?" said
Caroline.
"I wanted it all," said Elfie; "and you only gave me two sovereigns,
or I would have had the bracelets too."
"Never mind, Elfie," cried Babie, "I've got something for Mr. Gould
and for Kate and Mary."
"Have you, Babie? So have I," returned Armine; and the two, who had
been wedged into one seat, began a whispering conversation, by which
the listeners might have learnt that there was a friendly rivalry as
to which had made the two pounds provide the largest possible number
of presents. Neither had bought anything for self, for the chest of
drawers, bath, and broom were for Babie's precious dolls, not for
herself. Mother Carey, uncle and aunt, brothers, sisters, cousins,
servants, Mr. Gould, the gardener's grandson, the old apple-woman,
"the little thin girls," had all been provided for at that wonderful
German Bazaar, and the only regret was that gifts for Mr. Ogilvie and
Alfred Richards could not be brought within the powers of even two
pounds.
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