"No, ma'am."
"I could bring you some in a week or two, ma'am," said Bella promptly, forgetting the snub she had received in the old lady's enjoyment of her flowers. "It isn't quite ready to cut yet."
"Very well, bring me two shillings' worth. I make it up into cushions to sell for Missions. If it is nice, I may order more."
"Thank you, ma'am; I'll cut it fresh the morning I bring it," said Bella delightedly.
"Very well; I live in this house we are standing by," and she pointed to the very one they had just been turned away from.
Bella's face flushed at the mere thought of having to face the bad-tempered servant again, but, as she remarked to Tom afterwards, they were told to call, and they wouldn't have gone unless they had been.
"That makes eighteenpence," said Tom, as Bella slipped the money into her purse, "and an order for two shillings' worth for another week. Ain't we getting on!"
"If we can only sell a few more bunches we'll go and get something to eat," said Bella. "I'm hungry; ain't you?"
"Starving," said Tom, with emphasis. "Let's get into a better place, where the people can see us."
"Flowers, penny a bunch," he called to the people as they passed by, and so many turned and looked, and then stopped, that they had soon sold half a dozen of their big bunches and many of the small ones. Their flowers were certainly very good and very cheap, and Norton people had not had the chance of buying such before. The florist who had passed the children on the road had a stall in the market-place, but he only sold hothouse flowers, and charged very highly for them.