Part 18 (2/2)

But alas for their plans! The Blackbird Pie was so popular, and both Mrs. Spargo and Miss Lamb were so occupied, that they did not even see Susan and Letty, who tried in vain to gain their attention.

They wandered back to watch Emmy finis.h.i.+ng her ice-cream, quite innocent of the fact that her benefactors' feeling toward her had undergone a change.

”Greedy thing,” said Letty spitefully. ”See how she gobbles.”

”She's spilling it,” murmured Susan. ”Look at her. Even Johnny wouldn't do that.”

”Look, look!” gasped Letty. ”Did you ever?”

For poor Emmy, to whom ice-cream was a rare treat, had lifted her saucer in both hands and was polis.h.i.+ng it off with her little pink tongue, for all the world like a p.u.s.s.y-cat.

”Come along,” said Letty impatiently. ”We can buy some candy, anyway, with our four cents.”

At the candy table another disappointment awaited them. They looked scornfully at the two squares of fudge which was all their four cents would buy for them.

”I never knew anything like it,” scolded Letty, with her mouth full.

”You can do a great deal better round the corner from home. It's only a penny a square and much nicer than this.”

”Good-evening, young ladies,” said a voice over their heads, ”I hope you are enjoying the Fair to-night.”

The little girls looked up into the face of the new minister, Dr.

Steele, and Susan hastily licked off her finger-tips so that she might shake hands politely, while Letty choked on a large crumb of fudge and burst into a spasm of coughing.

”I hope you are both enjoying the evening,” repeated Dr. Steele, pulling out his handkerchief and offering it to Letty, whose eyes were streaming with tears and who had left her handkerchief in her coat pocket. He and Letty were old acquaintances, but it was Susan who answered his question, since Letty was unable to speak.

”We did have a good time,” said Susan frankly, ”until we spent all our money. But now we aren't having a good time, for our money is all gone and we haven't had a bit of ice-cream; not a bit.”

”I'll tell you what it is,” burst out Letty, who had recovered her voice. ”I think everybody charged us too much for everything, and that is why we haven't any money left.”

Dr. Steele's eyes twinkled.

”I have heard that complaint before about church fairs,” said he.

”Suppose you show me what you bought, and I will tell you whether I think you have been overcharged.”

So Susan and Letty spread their purchases out upon a bench, and Dr.

Steele sat down to look them over.

”The pencil box and the pocketbook were five cents apiece,” began Letty.

”But they are all right because Mother sold them to us. Then Susan bought a stocking-darner for her grandmother. Show it to Dr. Steele, Susan. That lady in a blue silk dress made her pay a quarter for it, and I think she asked too much. And she made me pay thirty cents for this present for my mother. I think she ought to give us some of the money back.” And Letty shook her head wrathfully at the broad back of a placid, fair-haired lady who stood behind the fancy table.

Dr. Steele glanced at the lady and smothered a laugh. It was his own wife, Mrs. Steele, whom Letty had not recognized without a hat.

Dr. Steele admired both presents and looked at the price tags still tied to them.

”No,” said he at last. ”They are marked twenty-five and thirty cents. I don't think you were overcharged here. I think you have good value for your money. And you spent ten cents on a doll for the baby, and ten cents to treat a little girl to ice-cream, and four cents on candy for yourselves. No,” repeated Dr. Steele soberly, shaking his head, ”I think you have proved yourselves excellent shoppers, and that you have spent your money to very good effect. And I now invite both you young ladies to be my guests at the ice-cream table.”

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