The Doll and Her Friends | Page 4

you been all this time? I have been hunting every where for you.'
Geoffrey did not immediately answer, his mouth being, as I perceived, quite full. When at last he could open his lips, he said, 'Will you have a cheesecake?'
'No, thank you,' replied his friend. 'We must go home to dinner so soon, that you will scarcely have time to choose your things. Where have you been?'
'At the pastrycook's stall,' answered Geoffrey; 'and I must go back again before I can buy any thing. I left my five shillings there to be changed.'
The boys returned together to the stall, and I saw its mistress hand a small coin to Geoffrey.
'Where is the rest?' said he.
'That is your change, sir,' she replied.
'Why, you don't mean that those two or three tarts and jellies cost four and sixpence!' he exclaimed, turning as red as the rosiest doll at my side.
'I think you will find it correct, sir,' answered the shopkeeper. 'Two jellies, sixpence each, make one shilling; two custards, sixpence each, two shillings; a bottle of ginger-beer, threepence, two and threepence; one raspberry cream, sixpence, two and ninepence; three gooseberry tarts, threepence, three shillings; two strawberry tarts, three and twopence; two raspberry ditto, three and fourpence; four cheesecakes, three and eightpence; two Bath buns, four shillings; and one lemon ice, four and sixpence.'
'What a bother!' said Geoffrey, as he pocketed the small remains of his fortune. 'I wish I could give her some of the tarts back again, for they weren't half so nice as they looked, except just the first one or two.'
'Because you were only hungry for the first one or two,' said the other boy. 'But it can't be helped now; come and spend the sixpence better.'
'There won't be any thing worth buying for sixpence,' said Geoffrey gloomily, as he shuffled in a lazy manner towards my stall.
'I want a spade,' said he.
Several were produced, but they cost two shillings or half-a-crown. There were little wooden spades for sixpence; but from those he turned with contempt, saying they were only fit for babies. Nothing at our table suited him, and he walked towards our opposite neighbour, who sold books, maps, &c. On his asking for a dissected map, all the countries of the world were speedily offered to his choice; but alas! the price was again the obstacle. The cheapest map was half-a-crown; and Geoffrey's sixpence would buy nothing but a childish puzzle of Old Mother Hubbard. Geoffrey said it was a great shame that every thing should be either dear or stupid.
'Can't you lend me some money, Ned?' continued he.
'I can't, indeed,' replied the other; 'mine all went in this box of tools. Suppose you don't spend the sixpence at all now, but keep it till you get some more.'
'No, I won't do that; I hate saving my money.'
So saying, he wandered from stall to stall, asking the price of every thing, as if his purse was as full as his stomach.
'How much is that sailor kite?' 'Two shillings, sir.'--'How much is that bat?' 'Seven and sixpence.'--'How much is that wooden box with secret drawer?' 'Three shillings.'
'How provoking!' he exclaimed. 'I want heaps of things, and this stupid sixpence is no good at all.'
'It is better than nothing,' said Edward. 'It is not every day that one's aunt sends one five shillings, to spend in the bazaar; and in common times sixpence is not to be despised. After all, there are plenty of things it will buy. Do you want a top?'
'No; I've got four.'
'Garden seeds?'
'What is the use of them, when I can't get a spade?'
'Steel pens? You said this morning you could not write with quills.'
'I don't like buying those kind of things with my own money.'
'A box? Yesterday you wanted a box.'
'I don't care for boxes that won't lock, and I can't get one with a lock and key for sixpence.'
'A knife?'
'Sixpenny knives have only one blade; I want two.'
'Sealing-wax? wafers? a penholder? a paint-box? India-rubber? pencils?'
'Stupid things!'
'A ball? You might have a very good ball.'
'Not a cricket ball; and I don't care for any other.'
'What a particular fellow you are! I am sure I could always find something to spend sixpence in. String? One is always wanting string. You may have a good ball of whipcord.'
'These sort of places don't sell it.'
'Then, I say again, keep your money till you want it.'
'No, that I'll never do, when I came on purpose to spend it. After all, the only thing I can think of,' continued Geoffrey, after a pause, 'is to go back to the pastrycook's. There was one kind of tart I did not taste, and perhaps it would be nicer than the others. I'll give you one if you like.'
'No, thank you; I am much obliged to you all the same; but I