"Yes, I explained the whole situation."

"What did he say?"

"He said he knew just how I felt, because he knew he couldn't go to
church in his wife's coat.--No, I said that myself, but he agreed with
me. He did not say very much, but he looked sympathetic. He said he
anticipated great pleasure in seeing me in my new coat at church next
Sunday."

"Go on with your luncheon, twins," said Prudence sternly. "You'll be
late to school.--We'll see about going down-town when you get home
to-night, Connie. Now, eat your luncheon, and don't talk about coats
any more."

When Connie had gone back to school, Prudence went straight to Mr.
Harold's bank. Flushed and embarrassed, she explained the situation
frankly. "My sympathies are all with Connie," she said candidly. "But
I am afraid father would not like it. We are dead set against
borrowing. After--our mother was taken, we were crowded pretty close
for money. So we had to go in debt. It took us two years to get it
paid. Father and Fairy and I talked it over then, and decided we would
starve rather than borrow again. Even the twins understood it, but
Connie was too little. She doesn't know how heartbreaking it is to
keep handing over every cent for debt, when one is just yearning for
other things.--I do wish she might have the coat, but I'm afraid father
would not like it. She gave me the five dollars for safekeeping, and I
have brought it back."