But the old man had dived beneath his stall, and now produced a book on which Pennie’s eyes were immediately fastened with the deepest interest.
“There!” he said, laying it before her, “there’s the book to suit you, my little lady.” It was a square book in a gaily-coloured parchment cover, somewhat faded, but still showing attractive devices of shields, swords, and dragons. On it was emblazoned in old English letters the title, “Siegfried the Dragon Slayer.”
Pennie gazed at it in silent rapture.
“Full of ’lustrations,” continued the old man slowly turning the leaves, and leaving it open to display a picture.
Pennie and Nancy both bent over it. It was a wonderful picture. There was a man with wings on his shoulders flying high up above a great city, and shooting arrows from a bow at the crowd of people beneath. How did he get wings? Who was he?
Pennie cast her eyes hurriedly on the next page to find out, but before she could master one sentence the old man turned over the leaf; “That’s the book for you, Missie,” he repeated, “you’re a scholard, I can see that.”
Much flattered, Pennie asked quickly, “Does it cost much?”
“Dirt cheap,” said the old man. “I’ll let you have it for eighteenpence.”
Pennie had exactly that sum in her purse. “Do come away, Miss Pennie,” said Nurse’s voice behind her.
“Why don’t you buy it?” said Nancy; “you won’t have such a chance again.”