The Doll and Her Friends | Page 5

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 won't help
you to spend your money in that way. Don't buy any more tarts. Come
and walk about; there are plenty more shops to look at.'
They sauntered on, but Geoffrey, by various turns, worked his way
back to the pastrycook's; and as no persuasions could then bring him
away, Edward walked off, not choosing, as he said, to encourage him.
Presently I saw a tall gentleman enter the bazaar, and I wondered what
he would buy. I did not then understand the difference between
grown-up people and children, and as he approached my stall, I could
not repress a hope that he would buy me. But his quick eye glanced
over the tables without resting on any of the toys.
'Can I show you any thing, sir?' said my mistress.
'No, I am much obliged to you,' he answered, with a pleasant smile. 'I
am only in search of some young people who, I dare say, have been
better customers than I. Ah, here they are,' he continued, as the two
boys of whom I had taken so much notice ran up to him from different
ends of the room.
'Well, boys,' said he, 'what have you bought? Must we hire a wagon to
carry your property home?'
'Not quite,' answered Edward. 'I have bought a wagon-load of

amusement, but I can carry it home well enough myself; I have spent
all my money in this box of tools.'
'A very sensible and useful purchase,' said the gentleman; 'they will
give you plenty of pleasant employment. The only objection is, that
they are likely to be lost or broken at school.'
'I do not mean to take them to school, papa. I shall use them in the
holidays, and leave them with Willy when I go back to school; that was
one reason why I bought them. Willy could do a good deal of
carpentering on his sofa.'
[Illustration: Page 25.]
'True, my boy, and a kind thought. They will be a great amusement to
poor Willy, and he will take good care of them for you.'
'Now, Geoffrey, how have you invested your capital? I hope you have
found a strong spade. It is fine weather for gardening.'
'No, I haven't,' stammered Geoffrey.
'Well, what have you bought?'
'I don't know,' said Geoffrey.
'Do you mean that you have not spent your money yet? Make haste,
then, for I can only allow you five minutes more. I expected to find you
ready to go home. Be brisk; there is every thing on that stall that the
heart of boy can wish,' said the gentleman, pointing to my abode.
But Geoffrey did not move. 'I don't want any thing,' said he at last.
'What a fortunate boy!' said the gentleman; but he presently added,
'Have you lost your money?'
'No.'
'Show it to me.'

Geoffrey slowly produced his sixpence, almost hidden in the palm of
his hand.
'Where is the rest?' asked the gentleman. 'Have you spent it?'
'Yes.'
'And nothing to show for it? Nothing?'--and the gentleman looked at
the boy more narrowly. 'Nothing,' said he again, 'except a few crumbs
of pie-crust on your waistcoat? Oh, Geoffrey!'
There was a short silence, and the boy colored a good deal; at last he
said, 'It was my own money.'
'You will wish it was your own again before long, I dare say,' said the
gentleman. 'However, we must hope you will be wiser in time. Come
home now to dinner.'
'I don't want any dinner,' said Geoffrey.
'Probably not, but Edward and I do. We have not dined on tarts; and I
dare say Ned is as hungry as I am.'
So saying, he led the way towards the door, leaving me, as usual,
pondering over what had passed. One word used by the gentleman
made a great impression on me--USEFUL.
What could that mean? Various considerations were suggested by the
question. Some things, it seemed, were useful, others not; and what
puzzled me most was, that the very same things appeared to be useful
to some people, and not to others. For instance, the sixpenny paint-box,
which had been rejected as useless to Willy, was bought soon
afterwards by a