Part 8 (1/2)
”Doesn't it make a difference how anybody speaks?” said Tom, receiving unconsciously a lesson in good manners and bad that he never forgot to the end of his life. But the woman's bad manners and temper had affected Bella so strongly that her eyes had filled with tears, and the little courage she had had ebbed away.
”I shall know now what it feels like to be spoken to so,” she said in a husky voice, as she hastily wiped her eyes.
”Flowers, ma'am? Tuppence and a penny a bunch. Fresh this morning,” said Tom brightly.
An old lady was peering closely into his basket, examining the contents.
”Give me three of those that are smelling so sweet.”
Tom picked out one of stocks and 'boy's love,' and one of pinks and mignonette, and a bunch of roses.
”Have you got any lavender?”
”No, ma'am.”
”I could bring you some in a week or two, ma'am,” said Bella promptly, forgetting the snub she had received in the old lady's enjoyment of her flowers. ”It isn't quite ready to cut yet.”
”Very well, bring me two s.h.i.+llings' worth. I make it up into cus.h.i.+ons to sell for Missions. If it is nice, I may order more.”
”Thank you, ma'am; I'll cut it fresh the morning I bring it,” said Bella delightedly.
”Very well; I live in this house we are standing by,” and she pointed to the very one they had just been turned away from.
Bella's face flushed at the mere thought of having to face the bad-tempered servant again, but, as she remarked to Tom afterwards, they were told to call, and they wouldn't have gone unless they had been.
”That makes eighteenpence,” said Tom, as Bella slipped the money into her purse, ”and an order for two s.h.i.+llings' worth for another week.
Ain't we getting on!”
”If we can only sell a few more bunches we'll go and get something to eat,” said Bella. ”I'm hungry; ain't you?”
”Starving,” said Tom, with emphasis. ”Let's get into a better place, where the people can see us.”
”Flowers, penny a bunch,” he called to the people as they pa.s.sed by, and so many turned and looked, and then stopped, that they had soon sold half a dozen of their big bunches and many of the small ones.
Their flowers were certainly very good and very cheap, and Norton people had not had the chance of buying such before. The florist who had pa.s.sed the children on the road had a stall in the market-place, but he only sold hothouse flowers, and charged very highly for them.
”We have only six bunches left,” said Bella joyfully; ”we'll go and have something to eat now. Where can we go for it, Tom?”
”There's a stall in the market-house where they sell limpets and c.o.c.kles, and----”
”Oh, I don't want limpets and c.o.c.kles! I want a gla.s.s of milk and some buns. Don't you?”
”Rather,” said Tom; ”let's buy some buns at that shop down there, and go somewhere quiet to eat them. I wouldn't like to eat them in the shop, with every one looking, would you?”
”No; but we can't take milk away without something to carry it in.”
”Well, we'll drink water. There's sure to be a pump or a drinking-fountain near.”
So they went to the shop, and very proud Bella felt as she took out her purse and paid for the four buns the woman put in a bag for her.
”Anything else, missie?”