"Is there anything else you think mother would like?" asked Elma. "Oh, a bottle of really good Guinness' stout," said Carrie. "Capital, Carrie! Why, you are getting quite a head for housekeeping. We'll give mother such a good supper, and it will do her a world of good." "Poor old dear, so it will," said jubilant Carrie. Having purchased the materials for an appetizing meal, the girls now entered a large establishment which, being supported by people of extremely slender means, could only afford to indulge in the cheapest articles. Carrie desired the shopman to exhibit cheap materials in different shades of blue. She finally selected one, turquoise in color, and wonderfully pretty, which cost the large sum of sevenpence three-farthings per yard. She ordered the required length to be cut, and Elma took out her purse to pay for it. She did not at all want her sister to see how many sovereigns that purse contained, and turned her back slightly as she laid one on the counter. "Well, how you got it baffles me!" cried Carrie. "Pray, don't speak so loud," said Elma; "they really will think that I stole it if you go on giving me those sort of staccato rises of your eyebrows. It's all the better for you; that sovereign has got you a new dress." "So it has, and you are an old darling," said Carrie. "I'll tell Sam all about you on Sunday, Elma. By the way, what a good idea; wouldn't you like to come with us? There's Sam's cousin, Maurice, a capital fellow--Maurice Jones." "Oh, no; don't speak of him," said Elma. She gave a shudder, and turned her head aside. The materials for the dress were purchased, even down to the linings and buttons; and Carrie, holding her parcel tucked comfortably under her arm, started home, Elma accompanying her. Carrie was so excited and delighted with her dress that she had no time even to think of the wonderful problem as to how Elma had got the money. When they reached the house Elma ran into the kitchen and prepared to dress the crab. She did so well, and when the dainty little meal was upon the table, ran upstairs to bring her mother down. "Now, mother, get up at once," she said. "Get up. Oh. I can't," said Mrs. Lewis; "I have got such a splitting headache." "But the crab is downstairs, and I have dressed it myself, just in the way you like best. I have brought in a little cayenne pepper, too, for I know you don't care for crab without it; and the lettuce is wonderfully crisp and fresh, and there are some radishes. Oh, and Carrie reminded me that you would not care for crab without your stout." "I know," said Mrs. Lewis in a plaintive voice; "your father would never allow me to touch crab or lobster without stout. Ah, but those good old days are gone!" "Not quite mother, for there is a bottle of Guinness's waiting at your disposal." "Oh, is there?" said Mrs. Lewis. She raised herself on her elbow. "Then I think I'll go down," she said.