on her arm but she shook herself free, and answered rather crossly,

"Don't--I can't--I've got something else to do with my money."

"Oh! you little stingy avaricious crab!" was the outcry beginning;
but Miss Fosbrook stopped it before Elizabeth had time to make the
angry answer that was rising on her lips.

"No, my dears, you must not tease her. Each of you has a full right
to use your own money as you may think best; and it is not right to
force gifts in this manner."

"She's a little affected pussy-cat," said Hal, much annoyed; "I know
what she wants it for--to buy herself a ridiculous parasol like Ida
Greville, when she would see poor Hannah Higgins starving at her
feet."

Elizabeth bit her lip, and tossed up her head; the tears were in her
eyes, but she made no answer.

"Come, never mind," said Sam; "she's as obstinate as a male when she
gets a thing into her head. Let's see what we've got without her.
I've only sevenpence: worse luck that I bought ball of string
yesterday."

The addition amounted to three shillings and elevenpence halfpenny:
a sum which looked so mighty when spread out, chiefly in coppers, on
the window-seat, that Annie and David looked on it as capable of
buying any amount of swine; but Sam looked rather blank at it, and
gazing up and down, said, "But what does a pig cost?"