However, Annie was kind, if she were silly, and she was very fond of
Johnnie; so it ended, after a little whispering, in her sixpence
being added to his, to buy a real good whip, such as would crack, and
not come to pieces.
Just then, what should the children espy, but a nice firm deal box,
containing a little saw, a little plane, a hammer, a gimlet, a
chisel, and sundry different sizes of nails. Was there ever anything
so delightful, especially to David, who loved nothing so well as
running after George Bowles the carpenter, and handling his tools.
What was the price of them?
Just ten shillings and sixpence. They were very cheap, the woman of
the toy-shop said. They had been ordered by an old lady at her
grandson's entreaty; but afterwards a misgiving had seized her that
the young gentleman would cut his fingers, and she would not take
them.
"Miss Fosbrook," whispered David, "may I give back the knife? then I
could buy it."
"You have bought and paid for it," said Christabel.
"Somebody else will buy the box," said David wistfully.
Miss Fosbrook, within herself, thought this unlikely, for nobody went
to Bonchamp for costly shopping; and she saw that the woman would
gladly have had the knife back, if she could have sold the tool-box,
which, even at this reduced price, was much too dear for the little
boys who frequented the shop.
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