"Why, Jasmine, we may even be able to save a little." Thus encouraged, Primrose commenced her duties, and though her throat ached--and she certainly found the continual reading of politics, interspersed with very sharp discussions on the part of Mrs.Mortlock, anything but agreeable--she did not give way.
Miss Egerton was pleased to see Primrose so bright, and was glad to know she was really earning something; and Jasmine and Daisy prepared the cheeriest welcomes possible for her evening after evening on her return.
Jasmine, however, by no means intended Primrose to be the only one who was to bring assistance to the household purse.
Jasmine knew that they had all come up to London on purpose to be educated, or to educate themselves, sufficiently to earn their livings.

She considered that six months' experience of the ups and downs of London life might bear fruit in her case as well as in her sister's.
Jasmine was supposed to be having her style formed by Miss Egerton's daily tuitions, but Miss Egerton's words of encouragement over her pupil's productions were decidedly meagre; and Jasmine, though she loved her, had long ago confided to Daisy that she considered Miss Egerton's manner had a damping effect on enthusiasm.
One bitterly cold March day Jasmine had been sitting for hours scribbling away at her novel.

Daisy petted the cat, looked over some well-known picture-books, and finally sank back into the recesses of one of the most comfortable chairs in the room and began to think about the Prince.
"Don't go to sleep, Daisy," called out Jasmine presently.

"I'm coming over in a minute to consult you." Nothing could possibly be more gratifying to Daisy than to know that Jasmine wished to ask her advice.

She accordingly roused herself, ceased to think of the Prince, and said, in a very bright little voice-- "I'll help you the best I can, Jasmine." "It's just this," said Jasmine, dashing down her pen on the top of her manuscript, and causing thereby a great blot--"it's just this, Daisy; I've got to do something, and you have got to help me." "Oh, I'm sure if I can," said little Daisy, still in that slightly patronizing voice, for the little maid's head was almost turned by being thus appealed to.