A week of remorse nearly made Meg sick, and the discovery that John had countermanded the order for his new greatcoat reduced her to a state of despair which was pathetic to behold.

He had simply said, in answer to her surprised inquiries as to the change, "I can't afford it, my dear." Meg said no more, but a few minutes after he found her in the hall with her face buried in the old greatcoat, crying as if her heart would break.
They had a long talk that night, and Meg learned to love her husband better for his poverty, because it seemed to have made a man of him, given him the strength and courage to fight his own way, and taught him a tender patience with which to bear and comfort the natural longings and failures of those he loved.
Next day she put her pride in her pocket, went to Sallie, told the truth, and asked her to buy the silk as a favor.

The good-natured Mrs.
Moffat willingly did so, and had the delicacy not to make her a present of it immediately afterward.

Then Meg ordered home the greatcoat, and when John arrived, she put it on, and asked him how he liked her new silk gown.

One can imagine what answer he made, how he received his present, and what a blissful state of things ensued.