“We will have to be careful, too, where we buy,” persisted Dorothy, “else our money will scarcely go around.”

Again Tavia felt annoyed.  Was it because Dorothy had shared her money with her that she made such a fuss about it?

“We must get the boys’ things first,” went on Dorothy.  “The little fellows must have their steam engines.”

Then the face of her little brother Johnnie seemed to come before Tavia’s bewildered eyes.  How he beamed when she promised him that engine!  And how fondly he kissed her when she declared it would make real steam!  But she had her own five dollars at that time.  That was before she had made—­the mistake.

“I wish I had had a chance to caution Nat,” thought the girl, as Dorothy made her way into the big department store.  “I will have to tell him, first thing when I get back.  But what ever will he think of me?”

“Tavia!  Tavia!” called Dorothy, who by this time was scanning the mechanical toys on the great center tables.  “Why don’t you come and see?  We will be crowded away from the best things if you don’t hurry.”

“There’s the little woman who was on the train with us,” replied Tavia, making her way to the clear spot Dorothy was saving for her.  She must be sightseeing.”

“She hardly looks well enough off to be buying mechanical toys,” agreed Dorothy.  “But Christmas goods seem to attract every one.  See, isn’t this cute?” and she held up a small tin automobile, the details of which revealed to what a nicety the real machine could be made in miniature.

“I do believe she is following us,” whispered Tavia without regarding Dorothy’s remark.  “Let us get out of the crowd.”

CHAPTER V

SHOPPING AND SHOPLIFTERS

Toy automobiles and steam engines were soon forgotten, for Dorothy and Tavia were anxious to free themselves from the jostling throng of eager shoppers, and from the risk of the deliberate elbowing of the little woman in black.

“Oh, dear!” sighed Dorothy, “I did intend to go right on with our list.  And now we have to stop and wait.  What can she mean by always keeping in our tracks?  Perhaps she is weak and has not the strength to make her own way through the crowds.”

“Then she should have stayed at home,” replied the practical Tavia.  “I see no reason why we should be inconvenienced by her infirmities.”

“But she may have babies.  Come, we will go to the jewelry counter.  I must get a pretty comb for Mrs. Pangborn.”

“Comb?” repeated Tavia indifferently.  “I thought Mrs. Pangborn had a head full of combs.”

“I know she wears them, which shows she is fond of them,” replied Dorothy, “and I do think in her kind of lovely white hair pretty combs are so attractive.  I want one with a band of enameled forget-me-nots.”

With some remorse in her heart for the mother who had made such sacrifices to give her daughter “her own Christmas money,” Tavila looked for the little neck pin for Mrs. Travers.  It must be carefully selected, with a view to economy as well as with the purpose of obtaining the best possible value for the money.