is dark
little shop that he had "all but" got a customer for her. The customer
was a wealthy old gentleman, who had a passion for collecting china,
and, in special, liked the work of beginners. The old gentleman had
looked at Primrose's plates, and had said that they were very fine,
and had a certain crudity or freshness about them, which, for his
part, he took to; and if she had three or four more lessons he felt
morally certain that he would purchase her wares.

"He's a splendid customer, but he was most explicit on the point of
more lessons, Miss Mainwaring," said Mr. Jones.

"But you have found me so many 'all but' customers who just wished me
to have a few more lessons, Mr. Jones," said Primrose, smiling sadly.

"None like the present man--none like the present man, my dear young
lady," answered Mr. Jones, rubbing his fat hands softly together. "A
man who likes crudity, and calls it freshness, ain't to be found every
day of the week, Miss Mainwaring."

Primrose admitted this fact, and, bidding her teacher good evening,
without committing herself to any definite promise of taking further
lessons, she turned her steps homewards. Even Mr. Jones had scarcely
power to depress her to-night. She felt brave and bright, and all her
youth made itself manifest in her springing, elastic step. Now that
she was about to leave them, she felt horrified at the thought of
having lived so long with the Doves. Her sense of relief at the
thought of making her home with Miss Egerton was greater than she
could express.

She entered the house, and came upstairs singing a gay air under her
breath.

At the door of their attics she was met by Jasmine.

"Oh, Primrose! I have been watching for you. I am so glad you have
come. I cannot think what is the matter with Daisy."

"With Daisy?" echoed Primrose; "but I left her so bright two hours
ago."

"She was bright an hour ago, Primrose; she was sitting on the floor
with the Pink in her arms, and laughing and chatting. I put on my
bonnet, and left her alone for about ten minutes while I ran round
the corner to get what we wanted for our supper, and when I came back
she was sitting with her hands straight before her in her lap, and the
Pink standing by her side, and looking into her face and mewing and
Daisy not taking a scrap of notice, but with her eyes fixed straight
in front of her in quite a dreadful way. When I went up to her and
touched her, she began to shiver, and then to cry,