ave explained myself quite clearly--do you
accept my offer? If you are willing to become a subscriber for one
hundred copies monthly of _The Joy-bell_ your story shall appear; if
not, I must return you your MS. 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.
"Forty-five shillings, and fifteen shillings over, for my wage with
Aunt Flint comes exactly to three pounds a quarter. The fifteen
shillings will find me in boots and house shoes, Miss Jasmine; and as
my 'at is fresh trimmed, and I have enough cotton dresses to go on
with, you are more than welcome to the two pound five."

"We will arrange it so, then," said the editor. "Miss Mainwaring, you
must give me your address, and you shall receive proofs in a day or
two. This sum of money provides for the appearance of the first
instalment of your story. From the sale of the hundred copies you will
be provided with funds for the second instalment, and so on."

"But how am I to pay Poppy back if I must give you the money that I
get for the magazines?" asked Jasmine, her face becoming more crimson
each moment.

"Ah! that," said the editor, with a slightly sarcastic smile, "that is
surely not my affair."

After this a few comparatively trivial arrangements were made. Jasmine
gave the address of the Palace Beautiful to Mr. Potter, and walked
downstairs, feeling excited