with regret."
Poor Jasmine's white little face grew piteous.
"Oh, Poppy!" she began.
"Do you want it, Miss Jasmine?" said Poppy. "I calls it a cheat; but
do you want it?"
"Oh, dear Poppy, I thought my words would look so lovely in Print--I
am disappointed!"
"Then you shan't be, Miss Jasmine, darling. Here, sir, you're another
of the Aunt Flint tribe, but my darling Miss Jasmine shall not look
as she does now if I can prevent it. Please, sir, will you look in
this here little purse given to you by the honest hand of toil, and
see if it contains the price of a hundred of those nasty _Joy-bells_.
There's my three months' wage in that purse, sir, so I expect it will
prove sufficient."
The editor opened the little purse gingerly.
"Do you wish your friend to subscribe for you?" he asked, looking at
Jasmine. "I will allow you to have the first instalment at a
reduction. The full price for a hundred copies of _The Joy-bell_ at
sixpence a copy will be, of course, fifty shillings. On this occasion
you shall have these delivered to you at your residence for forty-five
shillings."
"It's in the purse, sir," said Poppy, with an air of modest pride.
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