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It was still raining heavily, and Jasmine's umbrella had several rents in its canopy. Now that she was so close to her destination she began to feel strangely nervous, and many fears hitherto unknown beset her. Suppose, after all, The Joy-bell which contained the first portion of her story had not had a large success; suppose, after all, the public were not so delighted with her flowing words.
"I will allow you to have the first instalment at a reduction. The full price for a hundred copies of The Joy-bell at sixpence a copy will be, of course, fifty shillings. On this occasion you shall have these delivered to you at your residence for forty-five shillings." "It's in the purse, sir," said Poppy, with an air of modest pride.
"Look there, Miss Jasmine," said Poppy, when they got into the street. "Right there, facing us at the other side, is what I call a pleasant magazine it has lots of pictures, for see, it's pressed up to the window wide open, and it's called The Joy-bell I'm a great deal more taken with that sound than with the sound of The Downfall."
If you are willing to become a subscriber for one hundred copies monthly of The Joy-bell your story shall appear; if not, I must return you your MS. with regret." Poor Jasmine's white little face grew piteous. "Oh, Poppy!" she began. "Do you want it, Miss Jasmine?" said Poppy. "I calls it a cheat; but do you want it?"
It is not likely that they would both be wrong, and Poppy is a person of great discernment. I must cheer up and believe what they told me. I daresay Poppy is right, and London is half-flooded with my story. Ah, here I am at the entrance of the court where the editor of The Joy-bell lives. How funny it is to be here all alone. I really feel quite like a heroine.
"Poor child, of course none of the good houses would even look at her immature productions; but she was taken in by a man who professed himself to be the editor of a monthly paper The Joy-bell was its silly title.
They drove all the seven miles to Chilford without twenty words passing between them; and when there, she sat in the road, and watched one constellation after another fill up its complement of stars as well as the moon permitted, wondering whether Tom's near-sighted driving would be safe in the dark; but her heart was so light, so glad, that she could not be afraid, she did not care how long she waited, it was only sitting still to recollect that deliverance had come to the captive Leonard was free 'free as heart can think or eye can see, as would keep ringing in her ears like a joy-bell; and some better things, too.
Daisy, darling, he wants to see me about my story he thinks it's very fine he says there are masterly bits in it I'm to go and see him as soon as possible." "Him?" repeated Daisy; "but who is he, Jasmine?" "He's the editor of one of the most powerful of all our magazines," said Jasmine; "the magazine is called The Joy-bell hasn't it a delicious title? Oh, Daisy! I must go at once to see him."
"I beg your pardon, sir; I only wanted Poppy to help me when we came to terms. We have not come to the money part yet, dear Poppy. Yes, sir, I am most anxious to listen to you." "Well, Miss Mainwaring, the facts are these yes, I fear it is a question of money, after all. The Joy-bell is a new magazine; we are most anxious to extend its circulation by every means in our power.
"Oh, boy," she said, "do tell me about it; how can The Joy-bell be dead, and have a funeral? Oh, please, don't jest with me, for it's so important." The genuine distress in her tones touched at last some vulnerable point in the facetious office-boy's breast. "I'm real sorry for you, miss," he said, "particular as you seems so cut up; but what I tell you is true, and you had better know it.
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