wooden box with secret
drawer?' 'Three shillings.'

'How provoking!' he exclaimed. 'I want heaps of things, and this stupid
sixpence is no good at all.'

'It is better than nothing,' said Edward. 'It is not every day that
one's aunt sends one five shillings, to spend in the bazaar; and in
common times sixpence is not to be despised. After all, there are plenty
of things it will buy. Do you want a top?'

'No; I've got four.'

'Garden seeds?'

'What is the use of them, when I can't get a spade?'

'Steel pens? You said this morning you could not write with quills.'

'I don't like buying those kind of things with my own money.'

'A box? Yesterday you wanted a box.'

'I don't care for boxes that won't lock, and I can't get one with a lock
and key for sixpence.'

'A knife?'

'Sixpenny knives have only one blade; I want two.'

'Sealing-wax? wafers? a penholder? a paint-box? India-rubber? pencils?'

'Stupid things!'

'A ball? You might have a very good ball.'

'Not a cricket ball; and I don't care for any other.'

'What a particular fellow you are! I am sure I could always find
something to spend sixpence in. String? One is always wanting string.
You may have a good ball of whipcord.'

'These sort of places don't sell it.'

'Then, I say again, keep your money till you want it.'

'No, that I'll never do, when I came on purpose to spend it. After all,
the only thing I can think of,' continued Geoffrey, after a pause, 'is
to go back to the pastrycook's. There was one kind of tart I did not
taste, and perhaps it would be nicer than the others. I'll give you one
if you like.'

'No, thank you; I am much obliged to you all the same; but I won't help
you to spend your money in that way. Don't buy any more tarts. Come and
walk about; there are plenty more shops to look at.'

They sauntered on, but Geoffrey, by various turns, worked his way back
to the pastrycook's; and as no persuasions could then bring him away,
Edward walked off, not choosing, as he said, to encourage him.

Presently I saw a tall gentleman enter the bazaar, and I wondered what
he would buy. I did not then understand the difference between grown-up
people and children, and as he approached my stall, I could not repress
a hope that he would buy _me_. But his quick eye glanced over the tables
without resting on any of the toys.

'Can I show you any thing, sir?' said my mistress.

'No, I am much obliged to you,' he answered, with a pleasant