"It's her half-sovereign that Cousin Jane gave her last Christmas," exclaimed Winnie. "Donnie's kept it for her all this time."
"It's Ellie's own dold money," said Ellie, with her arms tight round Nessa's neck.
"Three cheers for Ellie," Murtagh cried, tossing the money-box up to the ceiling as a glittering half-sovereign fell out upon the table. "It's just right now."
"We want one halfpenny more," said practical Winnie.
"Ellie's dot a ha'penny, too," exclaimed the child, in delight, wriggling herself down on the floor, "out in the darden."
"That's a rum place for halfpennies," remarked Bobbo.
"It's planted," said Ellie. "For seed," she added gravely, seeing the others inclined to smile.
The children all began to laugh, and Rosie exclaimed, "You little silly! you don't suppose money grows from seed, do you?"
"Me thought ha'pennies might," she murmured, and hid away behind Nessa.
"I think it is true," said Nessa. "We do plant money for seed, sometimes. Only not exactly in the garden," she added, smiling as she kissed little Ellie.