, and she placed her
crisp new bill beside her plate. The twins gasped! They gazed at
Connie with new respect. They were just wishing they could handle
five-dollar bills so recklessly.

"Will you loan me twenty dollars until after Christmas, Connie?"
queried Fairy.

But Prudence asked, "Where did you get this money, Connie?"

"I borrowed it,--from the bank," Connie replied with proper gravity.
"I have two years to pay it back. Mr. Harold says they are proud to
have my trade."

Prudence was silent for several long seconds. Then she inquired in a
low voice, "Did you tell him why you wanted it?"

"Yes, I explained the whole situation."

"What did he say?"

"He said he knew just how I felt, because he knew he couldn't go to
church in his wife's coat.--No, I said that myself, but he agreed with
me. He did not say very much, but he looked sympathetic. He said he
anticipated great pleasure in seeing me in my new coat at church next
Sunday."

"Go on with your luncheon, twins," said Prudence sternly. "You'll be
late to school.--We'll see about going down-town when you get home
to-night, Connie. Now, eat your luncheon, and don't talk about coats
any more."

When Connie had gone back to school, Prudence went straight to Mr.
Harold's bank. Flushed and embarrassed, she explained the situation
frankly. "My sympathies are all with Connie," she said candidly. "But
I am afraid father would not like it. We are dead set against
borrowing. After--our mother was taken, we were crowded pretty close
for money. So we had to go in debt. It took us two years to get it
paid. Father and Fairy and I talked it over then, and decided we would
starve rather than borrow again. Even the twins understood it, but
Connie was too little. She doesn't know how heartbreaking it is to
keep handing over every cent for debt, when one is just yearning for
other things.--I do wish she might have the coat, but I'm afraid father
would not like it. She gave me the five dollars for safekeeping, and I
have brought it back."

Mr. Harold shook his head. "No, Connie must have her coat. This will
be a good lesson for her. It will teach her the bitterness of living
under debt! Besides, Prudence, I think in my heart that she is right
this time. This is a case where borrowing is justified. Get her the
coat, and I'll square the account with your father." Then he added,
"And I'll look after this salary business myself after this. I'll
a