Part 2 (2/2)

Betty's eyes sparkled.

”That's just what I'm going to do,” she said triumphantly. ”I never thought of it till to-day, but first the woman at the baker's spoke of it, and then Jack said he wished he could see Central Park. The day after to-morrow will be his birthday, and I'm going to hire a carriage and take him for a nice drive. I'm going to pay for it out of my own money too; it's to be my birthday present.”

”That will be nice,” said Winifred in a tone of satisfaction. ”Does he know about it?”

”Yes, and he's so pleased. I'm going right over to the livery stable now to ask how much it will cost. It couldn't be more than a dollar, do you think it could?”

Winifred, whose ideas on the subject were quite as vague as Betty's own, and to whom a dollar appeared a rather large sum, replied that she was sure it couldn't, and after a little more conversation Betty departed on her errand.

With a beating heart the little girl crossed the street and entered the office of the livery stable on the opposite corner. A man was writing at a desk, but he looked up at her entrance, and laid down his pen.

”Well, miss, what can I do for you?” he inquired politely, as Betty paused, uncertain in just what words to put her request. ”Do you want a cab?”

”No, thank you,” said Betty, ”at least not to-day, but I think I shall want one the day after to-morrow. Would you please tell me how much it would cost to hire a carriage to take us to Central Park?”

The man glanced at a big book which lay open on the desk before him.

”Central Park,” he repeated, beginning to turn over the pages, ”that would mean an afternoon drive, of course. Our regular charge for an afternoon drive is five dollars.”

”Five dollars!” Betty gave a little gasp. ”I didn't know it would be so expensive,” she said, and without another word she turned and walked quickly out of the office.

But once outside she did not hurry. Very slowly she recrossed the street, entered at the familiar door, and began climbing the long flights of stairs. At the top of the first flight she was stopped by her new friend Winifred.

”I was watching for you,” Winifred explained; ”I wanted to know if it was all right about the carriage. Oh, what's the matter? Didn't you get it, after all?”

Betty shook her head; she could not speak just then, but all the bright look of pride and happiness had gone out of her face.

”Oh, I'm so sorry,” said Winifred sympathetically. ”Were the carriages all engaged for the day after to-morrow? Perhaps you could get one at some other stable.”

”It isn't that,” said Betty, trying hard to steady the quiver in her voice, ”but--but they were very expensive--much more expensive than I thought. We couldn't possibly have one.”

”How much are they?” Winifred inquired with interest.

”Five dollars, the man said.”

”Oh!” and Winifred's eyes opened wide in astonishment; ”that is a great deal of money. Uncle Will gave me a five-dollar gold-piece for Easter, and we thought it was very good of him. But if your little brother wants to go so very much, and if it's his birthday, don't you think your mother might possibly let you have the money?”

But Betty shook her head decidedly. ”She couldn't possibly,” she said, ”I know she couldn't.” And then all at once her forced composure gave way, and she burst into tears.

”Oh, he'll be so disappointed, so dreadfully disappointed,” she sobbed.

”Oh, I wish I had never said anything about it to him, but I was so sure a dollar would be enough, and I promised him--I promised him.”

It was some few minutes later when Betty, still with red eyes, but otherwise looking much as usual, reached the top landing and paused for a moment outside their own door. Jack was so happy; how could she tell him that their cherished plan must be given up? She gave a long sigh, and drawing the door-key from her pocket, was in the act of fitting it in the lock when she heard the sound of footsteps and rustling skirts just behind her, and, turning in surprise, caught sight of a rather stout, florid lady coming up the stairs.

”This is the top floor, isn't it?” the stranger inquired rather breathlessly, as she reached the landing. She was not accustomed to climbing stairs, and did not enjoy it.

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