for
each, or if I could spend a little less on some of the children's, I
might afford rather more for Father's."

"Whew!" exclaimed Horace. "It requires rather careful calculation.
You'll have to be uncommonly economical, I'm afraid. What can you
possibly buy for fourpence-halfpenny that's worth having?"

"A great many things," said Patty. "Toys, of course, for the little
ones. It's far harder to choose presents for Basil and Milly, and it
will be terribly difficult to get one for Father, I'm sure. Why, there's
Uncle Sidney! He's seen us, and he's crossing the street."

"Well, Patty," said Mr. Pearson, "what are you and Horace doing here?"

"We've come shopping," explained Horace. "Patty's going to hunt bargains
to send home. She wants to buy eight Christmas presents for three
shillings. Isn't she plucky?" he added, with a meaning glance at his
father.

"You had better take her to Archer's stores," said Mr. Pearson, "and see
what you can find there." Then, putting his hand in his pocket, he drew
out a sovereign and slipped it into his niece's hand. "This is my
present to you, Patty," he said. "Perhaps you would rather have it now
than on Christmas Day. Spend it just as you like, my dear," and he
hurried away almost before she had time to say "Thank you".

With such wealth at her disposal, Patty could now afford to be
extravagantly generous, and I think she never enjoyed any afternoon in
her life more than the one spent in Archer's stores. I fear she tried
Horace's patience, after all, by looking at a great many unnecessary
articles; but in the end she secured exactly what she wanted, and
emerged from the crowded shop in such a state of bliss that he forbore
to scold, and took her various packages instead--a great self-denial on
his part, for he was a young gentleman who considered it much beneath
his dignity to carry a parcel. I do not know which delighted Patty most,
when she opened her treasures on her return, whether it was the pair of
thick driving gloves for her father, or the books for Basil and Milly,
or the wonderful toys for the little ones. Mary, the nurse, had not been
forgotten--a pretty handkerchief-box was to bear her name; and there was
even a bottle of scent for Anne, the kitchen servant, and a pencil-case
for Hughes, the coachman.

"They'll be so surprised," she said. "I'm sure they won't expect such
lovely presents as these."

"These aren't nearly so nice as the things Mother's sending them,"