"
Nancy protested, but Miss Michin insisted, and in a short time the dress
was pinned up in a dark cloth, and Nancy having drunk the tea, more to
please her kind friend than because she thought it would cure her
headache, donned the little jacket and fantastic hat, and went across to
the post-office, which was also a shop of a general description.
Mrs. Dodd was engaged in lighting her shop-window when Nancy entered.
"I have brought Emma's dress, Mrs. Dodd," she began, when that lady had
descended from the high stool on which she had mounted to place the
lamps in the window. "Miss Michin told me to tell you there wasn't
enough of the plush to finish off the lappets to match the collar and
cuffs, but she thinks you'll like it just as well as it is."
Mrs. Dodd examined the little dress, and, having approved of it, asked
in a friendly way what Nancy herself was going to have new this
Christmas.
"Oh, I don't know yet," answered Nancy, colouring deeply. "You see, I'm
not earning yet, and father's wages are small, you know."
"Mr. Hurst is real mean, I know that," exclaimed the post-mistress,
decidedly. "None but a very mean man would have cut your poor father's
wages down after he was laid up with a bad leg so long."
"But father says himself that he can't do as much since his accident,
and he doesn't want to be paid beyond what he earns," Nancy explained,
hastily.
Mrs. Dodd began to fold up Emma's dress, remarking, as she did so, "It's
a queer go as Mr.
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