matter?"

"Don't you notice it, Miss Jasmine, but I'm a bit low-like," said
Poppy. "I has my low fits and my high fits same as t'other folks, and
this is a low fit day--that's all, miss."

"Oh! I am so sorry. Poor Poppy! And is the swimming in your head as
bad as ever?"

"It's continual, Miss Jasmine. It seems to have become a kind of
habit, same as the smuts and the Sarah Janes. A swimming head is most
certain the London style of head for a girl like me. Yes, I am sorry I
can't go with you, Miss Jasmine, darling, but I can't this morning. I
hope you will get safe to the City, miss, and that you will see the
editor, and give it to him sharp for not sending you your _Joy-bells_.
Oh, my, Miss Jasmine! to think that your beautiful words is in print
at last! Most likely the whole of London is flooded by them now, and
the editor will be asking you for more of your words of beauty and
wisdom. You make a sharp bargain with him, Miss Jasmine, and before
you put pen to paper again for him, you get your money down. There's
nothing so safe in clinching a bargain as money down. Oh, dear! I wish
I could go with you. And, Miss Jasmine, if you could find it
convenient to pay me back say one and sixpence of the little loan,
I'll be for ever obliged, darling."

At this moment Mrs. Flint's voice was heard calling Poppy, and
demanding who she was standing gossiping with. Mrs. Flint's voice
sounded quite sharp, and Jasmine guessed that something unusual must
have occurred to disturb her, for Mrs. Flint was known on principle
never to excite herself.