look very grave and solemn, and say
'Yes' when I say 'Yes,' and shake your head and look stern when I do.
You are older than me, Poppy, and you are coming as a sort of
chaperon. Oh dear! Poppy, I wish you would not wear that scarlet wing
and those yellow flowers in your hat."

"The cruellest of all the bitings," whispered Poppy under her breath.
Aloud she said, in a meek but determined little voice--

"That hat's as it's trimmed, Miss Jasmine, and must remain according,
for it can't be denuded in the street."

"All right, Poppy. Your own dear face looks sweet and home-like under
it; now let us get into the very first omnibus, and find our way to
the city."

When the girls arrived within the sacred precincts of the far-famed
Paternoster Row, Jasmine held her breath a little, and stood still
while she eagerly considered as to which publishing house she should
offer her wares. Finally, she determined that her first pilgrimage
should be to the editor of _The Downfall_, who had not yet returned or
even written to her about her "Ode to Adversity."

The office of _The Downfall_ was not in Paternoster Row, but in a very
narrow street adjoining, and Jasmine, followed by Poppy, plunged
boldly down this narrow alley, and then up, and up, and up, and up the
winding stairs to the editor's office at the top of the house.

Jasmine had not been at all agreeably impressed by Mr. Rogers on the
occasion of her former visit. Unaccompanied by Poppy, she would
scarcely have again ventured to approach him, but Poppy looked quite
determined and resolute enough to give her little companion courage,
and Jasmine's childish voice was presently heard in the outer office
demanding to see the editor.

It so happened that Mr. Rogers was not particularly engaged, for _The
Downfall_ was rapidly proving the truth of its title, and was having a
very quick descent into an early and untimely grave--consequently its
editor had very little to do.

Mr. Rogers consented to see Miss Jasmine Mainwaring and her
companion, and accordingly the two girls were ushered into the
editorial presence.

Mr. Rogers commenced his interview with Miss Jasmine by apparently
forgetting all about her. This had a most disconcerting effect on the
young author.

"But surely you must remember that I came to see you nearly three
months ago, and brought you a poem called an 'Ode to Adversity,'"
pleaded Jasmine--"we had rather a long talk about it; I don't know how
you can