CHAPTER IX.
A NEW BROOM AND A CROSSING.
The morning was a fine soft, sunny December day, such as comes sometimes after a long season of rain and fog, and Tony proposed taking Dolly out for a walk through the streets, to which Oliver gladly consented, as it would give to him exactly the undisturbed leisure he needed for writing his letter to Charlotte.

But Dolly was not in her usual spirits; on the contrary, she was grave and sober, and at length Tony, thinking she was tired, sat down on a door-step, and took her upon his knee, to tell her his dream of the wonderful broom which swept beautifully all by itself.
Dolly grew more and more pensive after hearing this, and sat silent for a long time, with her small head resting thoughtfully upon her hand, as she looked up and down the street.
"Dolly 'ud like to buy a boom," she said, at last, "a great, big boom; and gan-pa 'ill smoke his pipe again to-night.

Dolly's growing a big girl; and me must be a good girl till mammy comes back.

Let us go and buy a big boom, Tony." For a few minutes Tony tried to shake her resolution, and persuade her to change her mind.

He even tempted her with the sight of a doll in a shop-window; but she remained steadfast, and he was not sorry to give in at last.