but gloomy. Shall I read it
to you after supper, Primrose?"

"If you like, dear," answered Primrose; "but why do you try to write
such very sad things, Jasmine?"

"Oh, I don't know; they suit me. Primrose, do you know of a very, very
melancholy periodical?"

"Several of the periodicals seem to me rather melancholy," answered
Primrose; "there is one I sometimes see on Mrs. Dove's table--it is
called _The Watch_. I glanced at it one day, and I thought it seemed
very morbid."

"Oh, I know," answered Jasmine; "but there is a worse one than
that--Mrs. Dove showed it to me. Mrs. Dove is very fond of reading,
and she told me that she would not give a farthing for any literature
that could not draw forth the salt and bitter tear; she says the
magazine she likes best at present is a new one called _The Downfall_.
She says it is very little known, but its melancholy is profound.
Shall I send my verses to _The Downfall_, Primrose?"

"If you like, dear; but I don't at all admire the name, and I really
do not think Mrs. Dove ought to be your guide in such matters,
Jasmine."

"Oh, she has very good taste," answered Jasmine; "she says that only
real talent is admitted on the staff of _The Downfall_. Of course I'd
rather write for one of the shilling magazines. Well, if you like,
I'll send my poem to one of them first."

Before Primrose could answer Jasmine on this weighty point there came
a knock on the sitting-room door, and Mrs. Dove, with her face wrapped
up in a thick woollen shawl, entered the room.

"Very sorry to disturb you, young ladies," she said, "but could you
oblige me with the loan of three and tenpence-halfpenny. Dove has put
in no appearance, and unless I can pay three and tenpence-halfpenny on
account to the baker he refuses positive to allow me sufficient bread
to see Sunday through."

When Mrs. Dove made this request Primrose's face became intensely
pale. She was silent for half a minute, then she said--

"I will lend you the money this time, Mrs. Dove, but please don't ask
me again; you know that at this present moment you owe me very nearly
two pounds."

"Thank you, my dear Miss Mainwaring," answered Mrs. Dove, in a very
suave voice, as she hastily pocketed poor Primrose's few shillings.
"You are always obliging, and this, with the other trifle due, shall
be returned the moment Dove comes in--Dove is on a very good piece of
work just at present, and the money is as safe as safe. Oh, Miss
Jasmine, I