“All we want now is some customers,” remarked the little boy.

“Yes,” agreed Sue.  “We want to sell things.”

They waited some little time, for the corner store was not in a busy part of town.  Several times, as footsteps were heard outside, Bunny and Sue hardly breathed, hoping some one would come in to buy.  But each time they were disappointed.

Finally, however, just when they were about to give up, thinking they would have to go home, a woman came in and looked around, not at first seeing any one.

“What can I do for you to-day, lady?” asked Bunny Brown, as he had often heard Mr. Gordon say.

“Oh, are you tending store?” the lady asked.  She was a stranger to Bunny and Sue.

“Yes’m, I and my sister—­I mean my sister and I—­are keeping store for Mrs. Golden.  She’s sick,” said Bunny.  “I can get you anything you want.”

“All I want is a loaf of bread,” the lady answered.

Bunny knew where to get this, and also the kind the lady wanted, as it was the same sort of loaf his mother often sent him for.  He put it in a paper bag and took the money.  The lady gave the right change, so Bunny did not have to trouble Mrs. Golden.

All this while Sue stood on her side of the Store, rather anxiously waiting.  She wished the customer would buy of her.

“You are rather small to be in a store, aren’t you?” asked the lady, as she started to leave with the bread.

“Oh, we know lots about stores,” said Bunny.  “We often play keep one, but this is the first time we ever did it regular.”

“I know how to keep store, too,” said Sue, unable to keep still any longer.  “Would you like some needles and thread?”

“Yes, now that you speak of it, I remember I do need some thread, my dear,” the lady answered, with a smile.  “Can you get me the kind I want?”

“I—­I guess so,” Sue answered, yet she was a bit doubtful, as there were so many things among the notions.

“Well, perhaps I can help you,” said the lady.  “I see the tray of spools of silk right behind you, and if you’ll pull it out I’ll pick the shade I want.  I have a sample of dress goods here.”

[Illustration:  Sue helped her customer match her sample.
  Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue Keeping Store. Page 174]

Sue had often been with her mother when Mrs. Brown matched sewing silk in this way, and the little girl pulled out the shallow drawer of small spools.  She saw the sample and knew the lady needed red sewing silk; so she at once pulled out the right drawer.  Then she helped the customer match her sample until she had what she wanted.

“How much is it?” asked the lady, taking out her purse.

Here was Sue’s trouble—­she did not know exactly, and she did not want to go ask Mrs. Golden, for the storekeeper might be sleeping.  To call her might make her head suddenly ache worse.