“No, I shan’t spend it—I shall keep it,” said Allumette. “The lady said it was a sort of keepsake. I shall keep it and look at it sometimes; only I don’t know where it will be safe.”
“I’ll make you a little leather bag for it, ducky,” said the old man, “and then I’ll make a little hole in the crown itself, if you like, and you can hang it round your neck, bag and all. It’ll be safest so, as you might lose it out of the bag if ’twasn’t bored through itself; but we’ll make it all safe for you!”
Allumette was delighted. She watched the whole process with eager interest, and when the coin was wrapped in its covering and hung about her neck, her little face beamed all over with joy.
“It feels as if it would bring me good luck!” she cried, with dancing eyes.
“Perhaps it will for sure!” said the old couple fondly.
A happy child was Allumette that night when she fell asleep, though she little dreamt of the golden hours that were in store for her.
CHAPTER II.
IN THE STUDIO.
“It is provoking!” exclaimed Cora Clayton.