Jasmine, dear, that lace is worth pounds.

I shall redeem it at once, for my sake, if not for yours.

There, poor little girl, keep your ten shillings, if it makes you happy." The man who had lent Jasmine half a sovereign on the Spanish lace of course knew little or nothing of its true value, and the good lady had therefore small difficulty in getting it back.

She walked home holding Jasmine's hot little hand, took her into her own pretty drawing-room, feasted her on many good things, which she had brought from the country, and finally made her tell her all her sorrowful little story.
"You always said that my writing was not up to much," said Jasmine, in conclusion.

"I did not like you to say it, and I was most anxious to prove you wrong, but now I know that you are right." Miss Egerton looked quietly at the excited child.
"My dear," she said, in her gentle tones, "I do not know--no one knows--whether in the future you will be able to write.