“Four weeks. ’Twill be easy keeping count; four weeks from Fourth of July.”
The words “Fourth of July” reminded Gilbert that he must buy his candy.
“Come, Jimmy,” said he, shaking his purse up and down. He liked to hear the coins jingle. “Where’s your purse, Jimmy?”
Jimmy drew out of his pocket a small, very pretty mother-of-pearl portemonnaie, and sighed as he opened it. It held a nickel and a one-cent stamp.
“I can’t buy any candy to-day; but you can buy yours all the same.”
“Why can’t you?”
“’Cause I can’t.”
“Oh, ho! been a bad boy?”
“Not much; not very; no!”
Then, as Gilly jingled his money again, Jimmy added rather tartly,—