Meg glanced at the three crowded round the little table, and left them with a happy heart.
Mrs. Blunt busied herself with some work Meg had left for her, and it did not seem long before she came back, accompanied by Cherry carrying a long-shaped parcel.
"Look!" she exclaimed, spreading it out on the table, "just look what mother-Meg has bought for me! Here's some dark blue serge for my best frock, and stuff for two aprons, and a new hat. I never saw such a lot o' things in my life."
Then Meg unrolled her parcel, and there was a ready-made jacket for Dickie, and stuff like Cherry's for a neat little frock, and a hat, which Meg put down on his table in front of him, guiding his soft hands to feel its shape and newness.
"For me?" asked Dickie. "What a nice lickle hat!"
"See if it fits you," said Meg, placing it on his head.
Cherry was delighted; and then Meg turned to the table to begin cutting out, so that no time might be wasted.
"Does he never run about?" whispered Mrs. Blunt, glancing towards Dickie.
"Not yet," answered Meg, in the same tone.
But the children's society was very attractive, and before long they noticed that Dickie stood up of his own accord, and even went so far as to feel his way round to the other side of his table.
"He will get on by-and-by," said Mrs. Blunt. "It's all new to him, poor little chap."
Cherry sat by, watching the children, and working at the seams of her skirt; and if ever her heart felt thankful it was this morning, as she saw Dickie, sheltered from all danger, playing so peacefully there. Her own new dress was only a part of her happiness, and when she thought of all the love which had been showered upon her, she felt as if she could sing for joy.
"Mother-Meg," she said softly, when she was next standing by her to have something fitted, "I don't know how to tell you how grateful I am to you and father-Jem."
Meg smiled kindly. "Tell Jesus," she answered, stroking her wavy hair, "for when we tell Him, it does not make us less glad, but more."
So Cherry went back to her work, and Meg and Mrs. Blunt were left to theirs.
"Do you think as we shall get this done to-night?" asked Mrs. Blunt.
"I hope we shall--I think we may. You see, to-morrow is Sunday, and I did want for us all to go to the Mission Room together. I don't know that Cherry _could_ go in that old thing, though I am not sure, now I say so, that shabby clothes ought to keep us away."