, and he
consented. So then I coaxed Bill out of a sovereign to buy a new
bonnet, and he gave it me; and then I thought what a kind soul you were,
and I resolved that I would bring you the sovereign, and go without the
new bonnet; so here it is, take it quick, or I shall repent."

"Well, Nancy," said Mrs Chopper, "you said right; gold has passed
between us, and I am surprised. Now I shall trust you again."

"And so you ought; it's not every pretty girl, like me, who will give up
a new bonnet. Only look what a rubbishy affair this is," continued
Nancy, giving her own a kick up in the air.

"I wish I had a sovereign to give away," said Joey to Mrs Chopper; "I
wish I had not said a word about the clothes."

"Do as you like with your own money, my dear," said the bumboat-woman.

"Then, Nancy, I'll give you a sovereign to buy yourself a new bonnet
with," said Joey, taking one out of his pocket and putting into her
hand.

Nancy looked at the sovereign, and then at Joey. "Bless the boy!" said
she, at last, kissing him on the forehead; "he has a kind heart; may the
world use him better than it has me! Here, take your sovereign, child;
any bonnet's good enough for one like me." So saying, Nancy turned
hastily away, and ran downstairs.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

IN WHICH MRS. CHOPPER READS HER LEDGER.

"Ah, poor girl," said Mrs Chopper, with a sigh, as Nancy disappeared.
"You are a good boy, Peter; I like to see boys not too fond of money,
and if she had taken it (and I wish she had, poor thing) I would have
made it up to you."

"Is the man she calls Bill her husband?" inquired Joey.

"Oh, I know nothing about other people's husbands," replied Mrs
Chopper, hastily. "Now then, let us go and order the clothes, and then
you'll be able to go to church on Sunday; I will do without you."

"What, won't you go to church?"

"Bless you, child! who is to give the poor men their breakfast and their
beer? A bumboat-woman can't go to church any more than a baker's man,
for people must eat on a Sunday. Church, like everything else in this
world, appears to me only to be made for the rich; I always take my
Bible in the boat with me on Sunday, but then I can't read it, so it's
of no great use. No, dear, I can't go to church, but I can contrive, if
it don't rain in the evening, to go to meeting and hear a little of the
Word; but you can go to church, dear."

A suit of blue cloth, made in sailor's fashion, having been ord