's a Millennium plate!"

"What's that?" said Elise, looking blank.

"A Millennium plate? Why, Elise, it's about the most valuable bit of old
china there is in this country! Why, Nan would go raving crazy over that.
I'd rather take it home to her than any present I could buy in the city
shop. Elise, do you suppose whoever keeps this little store would sell
that plate?"

"No harm in trying," said Elise, "there's plenty of time, for it will
take Roger half an hour to fix that belt. Let's go in and ask her."

"No, no," said Patty, "that isn't the way. Wait a minute. I've been china
hunting before, with Nan, and with other people, and you mustn't go about
it like that. We must go in as if we were going to buy some of her other
goods, and then we'll work around to the plate by degrees. You buy
something else, Elise, and leave the plate part to me."

"Very well, I think I'll buy that rag doll, though I'm sure I don't know
what I'll ever do with it. No self-respecting child would accept it as a
gift."

"Well, buy something," said Patty, as they went in.

The opening of the door caused a big bell to jingle, and this apparently
called an old woman in from the back room. She was not very tidy, but she
was a good-natured body, and smiled pleasantly at the two girls.

"What is it, young ladies?" she asked, "can I sell you anything to-day?"

"Yes," said Elise, gravely, "I was passing your window, and I noticed a
doll there,--that one with the blue gingham dress. How much is it,
please?"

"That one," said the old lady, "is fifty cents. Seems sorter high, I
know, but that 'ere doll was made by a blind girl, that lives a piece up
the road; and though the sewin' ain't very good, it's a nine-days' wonder
that she can do it at all. And them dolls is her only support, and land
knows she don't sell hardly any!"

"I'll give you a dollar for it," said Elise, impulsively, for her
generous heart was touched. "Have you any more of them?"

"No," said the woman, in some amazement. "Malviny, she don't make many,
'cause they don't sell very rapid. But be you goin' her way? She might
have one to home, purty nigh finished."

"I don't know," said Elise, "where does she live?"

"Straight along, on the main road. You can't miss it, an old yaller
house, with the back burnt off."

It was Patty's turn now, and she said she would buy the peppermint
candies that were in the window.

"All of 'em?" asked the storekeeper, in surprise.

"Yes,"