ON Saturday evening Ben was paid the remainder of the money by the two women. They pitied the children, and not being very hard-hearted, did not refuse Ben's urgent demands. Very likely they thought that the child was sent by his father, and that if they did not pay their debts he might visit them, and a call from Dick Rogers was not very desirable. Ben had now fifteen-pence in hand with that day's earnings, after laying aside a shilling for fresh matches, but there was food to buy for two days and a little bit of firing, so that after he had bought bare necessaries for the Sunday, including the ha'porth of milk for Kit, he had only sixpence in hand.
By this time their clothes were very shabby, and Ben knew that he must try and put a few halfpence by occasionally, to get fresh ones with. A hole in the wall served for the hiding-place; and here, on this Saturday night, he stowed two-pence. Then they wandered out together, and passed a few shops that were lighted up. As they drew near to a second-hand clothes shop, Ben said, "Mousie, dear, I'm going to see if I can get you a little 'at; yours is all in tatters, and if we can go anyhow tidy to school, we ought to. If I see a little decent black one for four-pence, I shall buy it.”
"And a cap too, Ben?”
"No, no; mine's good enough for a little while. But here we are. Please, sir, have you a little 'at in your shop that would fit this little girl? I can't give more than four-pence, and it ought to be black, 'cos mother's dead.”
The man looked at the little pair, as they stood in the gas-light, with pale anxious faces, and a look of pity came across his face.
"Was your mother named Rogers, and was she taken to the hospital this week and did she die there of small-pox?”
"Yes, she did; and my father has given me this little girl to take care of," said the boy, shielding Kit, as if he fancied the man would seize her away from him.
“I aint a going to make off with her, don't you fear," said the man; "little girls are cheap in these parts; but, considering your mother was a customer of mine, I'll see what I can do.”
He opened a box and displayed some hats.
There was one which he took hold of directly and placed on Kit's head. It was a small black one, with a little piece of black velvet round it, and a slightly faded bow of violet ribbon in front Ben held his breath. To get such a hat for Kit would be grand; it made her look so pretty; but then it ought to be black. He told the man so again.
"Nonsense," said he, "many folks wear that color for mourning; and, if you don't like it, take the color away, and put a piece of black there instead. You may have it for four-pence, and cheap enough too.”
The little boy paid the money, and carried away the hat; and when they reached their room, they found the little black frock and shawl laid neatly on a chair, ready for use