HANNA HASTENED FROM THE KITCHEN to the shop carrying two platters of cookies. Bess followed behind her more slowly so as not to spill the full pitcher of ginger shrub she was holding. Mrs. Blake and Ellie from the hotel had brought stacks of tin plates and cups for serving.

The shop was full of people; the bells on the doors were jingling almost constantly. Everyone was talking, looking at the goods, nibbling and sipping the refreshments. The button box was of great interest, as was the window display, with customers crowded around both. Papa took another pitcher of ginger shrub out to the sidewalk, where a group of menfolk had gathered. Hanna noticed that he was wearing his good boots, which gleamed from the polish she had given them.

Miss Walters greeted Hanna, then took Hanna’s hands in hers and gave them a little squeeze. “Bess and I had a very interesting walk yesterday,” she said quietly. “You were right, Hanna, to send her to me.”

Hanna looked at her and nodded, not trusting herself to speak without tears.

Miss Walters smiled. “I’m thinking about a visiting dress. Will you show me the poplins?”

The raffle was a tremendous success. Papa called out the names to applause and exclamations of surprise and delight. Miss Walters won the needles. Mrs. Murphy, from the drugstore, won the button string. The posy of ribbons went to Ellie, who declared that she would wear them all at once, making everyone laugh. Hanna was especially glad that Ellie had won a prize.

Mrs. Wilson at the hardware store won the lace. The winner of the grand-prize sewing basket was Mrs. Schmidt, the pastor’s wife.

Then Papa drew Mr. Grantham’s name for the men’s raffle and called him inside to claim his prize. More applause and laughter greeted him as he went to stand next to his wife.

Mr. Grantham, who owned the furniture store, had a full mustache and muttonchop whiskers. Mrs. Grantham had a round girlish face and graying brown curls. Both were plump and pink-skinned.

Mr. Grantham looked at the card that Hanna had made. “Twenty percent discount! All right then, Wilma, you can order that dress you wanted.”

“Whatever are you saying, Harold? Now that you’ve won the discount, I’m going to order two!”

The morning was not perfect. There were customers who greeted Hanna icily and spoke only to Papa. A few addressed her as they might a servant, tersely, without using her name. Still others said not a single word to her. But the overall sense of gaiety bubbling through the room helped her ignore any unpleasantness.

She and Bess stole a few moments together in the workroom.