"Oh, but I haven't," answered Beppa, laughing. "I want to borrow it of you; that is what I came up for to-day--to tell you about it." Prudence, her heart still softened, looked at the handsome girl with gentle eyes. "Why, of course I'll lend it to you, Bepper," she said. "How much do you want?" "All you've got won't be any too much, I reckon," answered Beppa, with pride. "I shall have to have things nice, you know; I don't want to shame 'em." "I've got twenty-five francs," said Prudence; "I mean I've got that amount saved and put away; 'twas for--for a purpose--something I was going to do; but 'tain't important; you can have it and welcome." Her old face, as she said this, looked almost young again. "You see, I'm so glad to have you happy," she went on. "And I can't help thinking--if your father had only lived--the first wedding in his family! However, _I'll_ come--just as though I was your real mother, dear; you sha'n't miss that. I've got my Sunday gown, and five francs will buy me a pair of new shoes; I can earn 'em before the day comes, I guess." "I'm afraid you can't," said Beppa, laughing. "Why, when's the wedding? Not for two or three weeks, I suppose?" "It's day after to-morrow," answered Beppa. "Everything's bought, and all I want is the money to pay for 'em; I knew I could get it of you." "Dear me! how quick! And these shoes are really too bad; they're clear wore out, and all the cleaning in the world won't make 'em decent." "Well, Denza, why do you want to come? You don't know any of Giuseppe's family. To tell the truth, I never supposed you'd care about coming, and the table's all planned out for (at Giuseppe's sister's), and there ain't no place for you." "And you didn't have one saved?" "I never thought you'd care to come. You see they're different, they're all well off, and you don't like people who are well off--who wear nice clothes. You never wanted us to have nice clothes, and you like to go barefoot." "No, I don't!" said Prudence. "'Tany rate, one would think you did; you always go so in summer. But even if you had new shoes, none of your clothes would be good enough; that bonnet, now--" "My bonnet? Surely my _bonnet's_ good?" said the New England woman; her voice faltered, she was struck on a tender point. "Well, people laugh at it," answered Beppa, composedly. They had now reached the house. "You go in," said Prudence; "I'll come presently." She went round to the wood-shed, unstrapped her basket, and set it down; then she climbed up on the barrel, removed the hay, and took out her work-box. Emptying its contents into her handkerchief, she descended, and, standing there, counted the sum--twenty-seven francs, thirty centimes. "'Twon't be any too much; she don't want to shame 'em." She made a package of the money with a piece of brown paper, and, entering the kitchen, she slipped it unobserved into Beppa's hand.