Page:Saxe Holm's Stories, Series Two.djvu/307

Rh Captain 'Lisha made no objection, and on Tuesday morning he took Mrs. Bennet and Tilly over to the town, and left them there.

Tilly's cheeks were crimson with excitement. She was the swiftest-handed maiden in the meeting house that week and her mother was not behind her. When on Saturday they went home they took with them an enormous bundle of shirts to be made.

"We can't be idle, either of us," said Mrs. Bennet. "Can we, Tilly?"

"No, indeed," said Tilly. "I wish I had a hundred hands."

All day long they sewed, saving every minute of time possible from their household toils.

At twilight one evening, Tilly said:— "Oh dear, I wish we 'd brought over some yarn too. There 's just this time between daylight and dark when we can't do anything, and I might be knitting."

"So we might," said Mrs. Bennet. "We have n't got any yarn, have we?"

"There 's that scarlet worsted," said Tilly. "I don't see why that would n't do. There 's enough for two pairs I guess; and we sha'n't ever use it up in the world."

This scarlet worsted was one of good Captain 'Lisha's blunders. He had been commissioned on a certain day, to buy in Provincetown, a few ounces of scarlet worsted. Mrs. Bennet wanted it for