Mr. Noel had taken a
fancy to Jasmine's sweet little face, and Jasmine, when she met with a
sympathetic listener, could be only too communicative. Before Miss
Slowcum and her sisters and Poppy joined them Mr. Noel knew something
of Jasmine's ambitions and of Primrose's modest hopes. Jasmine had
even confided to him the brave resolve the three sisters had made not
to sigh, or grumble, or wear themselves out with useless tears. He was
very kind, although he could not be persuaded to say that he thought
Primrose's scheme a wise one, but this chance encounter might never
have led to anything further but for a little coincidence which shows
what a small place the world is, after all. When Primrose and Daisy,
Poppy and the sedate Miss Slowcum, joined Jasmine, as she stood with
her companion examining Nelson's monument, they were accompanied by a
handsome, bright-faced boy, who ran up to Mr. Noel, and linked his
hand within his arm. This boy turned out to be young Frank Ellsworthy,
and, as the girls all exclaimed on hearing the name, Mr. Noel assured
them that the Ellsworthys were his greatest friends--that he loved
Mrs. Ellsworthy almost as if she were his own mother.
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