Page:St. Nicholas (serial) (IA stnicholasserial321dodg).pdf/311

1905.] at a safe distance trailed sadly and respectfully after their guide.

She went to a table piled high with garments, “Here ‘s one for six and a half.” She disentangled from a motley assortment a bright blue coat and held it up before them.

“That ’s pretty,” said Lucy’s father, his face lighting with relief. “How much is it?”

“Only six and a half, marked down from ten. Would you like ta try it on?”

“Try it on, Lucy.”

“It is n’t brown, papa,” whispered Lucy.

“Oh, that 's so. Have n't you any brown ones?” He spoke to the princess in his politest tones.

“Nothing so cheap. We have a few brown ones like that on the form over there, marked down from fifteen to ten. It’s a great bargain, if you ’re willing to pay so much.”

It was not a question of willingness, though Lucy’s father did not say so. In spite of Lucy’s whisper, “It’s like what mama wanted—with a cape,” he shook his head.

“Six and a half is all I can pay.”

“Well, this is the best style in the cheaper coats. These blues are going to be worn a good deal this winter. Shall I try it on her?”

“It ’s long,” objected Lucy, feebly. It hung almost to the floor; her dress-skirt was but a little below her knees.

“You can wear it several seasons if you get it long enough,” said the princess.

The face of Lucy’s father lighted again, “That ’s a good idea, Lucy,”

“The sleeves are so big and long!” Lucy could not see her fingers below as she looked down on her sleeves.

“But mama said the other sleeves were too short, Lucy. It’s a good thing to have sleeves long.”

“Yes, it’s always a good thing to have coats a little large,” said the princess, “All our customers buy children’s garments a little large. Children grow so rapidly, you know.”

“It is n’t brown,” said Lucy, vaguely feeling that something was wrong with her dark little face above the bright blue.

“It’s a pretty color,” said Lucy’s father, who could not help thinking that a long coat would last for several winters, and coats were expensive.

“Do you like it, Lucy?” asked her father,

“It's very good style, very,” said the princess. She smoothed it down in front and pulled it up behind, and turned Lucy around and around before the glass.

“Perhaps we ’d better take it, Lucy,” said the father.

“Will you have it sent or take it with you?” said the princess, with a sweet smile that warmed Lucy’s doubtful litle heart.

“I ’ll have her wear it, and you can send this one.” He handed her Lucy’s old coat, and in a few moments a man in a short light coat was seen leading down the aisle a little girl in a very long blue one.

“Oh, papa,” said Lucy as they reached the ground floor, mama said not to buy the first thing we saw.”

Her father’s face fell. “Don ’t you think she ‘ll like this?” he asked. “And it will last a long time.” Lucy sighed.

“It is n’t brown and it has n’t got a cape,” she said.

“Well, we ‘ll get a brown hat, anyhow,” comforted her father,

It did not take long to select a brown tam-o’-shanter, which contrasted oddly with the bright blue coat. As they went downstairs and past the candy counter, Lucy’s father stopped; for one wild moment Lucy actually hoped he was going to buy her some candy. But that delightful and unheard-of possibility was soon dispelled, for did not six dollars and a half for the coat and fifty cents for the cap make seven dollars? Then her father said:

“Will you wait here, Lucy, till I go down to the store and get some more money? I have n't even car-fare for your trip home. But I ’ll be back in a little while. The store ’s not far away. You don’t mind waiting, do you?”

Oh, no, Lucy did not mind waiting; and her father left a strange little blue-coated, brown-capped figure standing near the tempting candy counter. But very soon Lucy’s thoughts were taken up by something other than the candy. A young woman went by with rustling skirts, a silver bag at her side, a long white floating feather boa, and two long white feathers in her hat. The glories of the princess upstairs paled beside her. Lucy could not resist the tempta