The red-haired boy raised his eyes from a huge ledger which he was pretending to occupy himself over, and said, "Can't see him," in a laconic tone, and dropped his eyes again.
"But why?" asked Jasmine, somewhat indignantly. "I have particular business with him; it is most necessary that I should see him. Pray, let him know that I am here."
"Very sorry," replied the boy, "but can't."
"Why not?"
"'Cause he ain't in town."
"Oh!"
Poor Jasmine fell back a pace or two; then she resumed in a different tone—
"I am very much disappointed; there is a story of mine in The Joy-bell, and I wanted to speak to him about it. It was very important, indeed," she added, in so sad a voice that the red-haired boy gazed at her in some astonishment.
"My word," he said, "then you do not know?"
"Don't know what?"