attaching no significance to the remark, although tavia turned about uneasily, dorothy put away her shopping notes, and as the train slacked up under the great iron sheds of the city depot the girls made their way through the crowds, out into the wintry day, along the broad pavements, where the shop windows beamed in all their splendor of holiday goods and christmas finery.

"be careful of your purse," cautioned dorothy, making her own secure within her squirrel muff.

"oh, yes," replied tavia with some impatience. it did seem as if dorothy thought of nothing but purses and money.

"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."