back to their happiness, and that was they did not know how to lay out the sixpence they had brought with them to spend. If there had been less variety there would have been less difficulty; but, as it was, Benny felt as if he would never be able to decide what to buy. However, they agreed at last to lay out twopence in two slices of bread and ham, for they were both rather hungry; and then they spent the other fourpence in apples, oranges, and toffee, and, on the whole, felt very well satisfied with the result of their outlay.
It was rather later than usual when they got home, but old Betty knew where they had gone, and, as it was Christmas Eve, she had got a bigger fire in than usual, and had also got them a cup of hot cocoa each, and some bun loaf to eat with it.
"By golly!" said Benny, as he munched the cake, "I do wish folks 'ud 'ave Christmas ev'ry week."
"You are a cur'us boy," said the old woman, looking up with a smile on her wrinkled face.
"Is I, granny? I specks it's in my blood, as the chap said o' his timber leg."
The old woman had told them on the first evening of their arrival, when they seemed at a loss what name to give her, to call her granny; and no name could have been more appropriate, or have come more readily to the children's lips.
"But could folks 'ave Christmas any oftener if they wished to?" asked little Nell.
