“Lor, Miss Jasmine,” said Poppy, her fingers trembling violently, and the large dish which she was washing nearly slipping out of them.  “Lor, miss, you do startle me.  I was in the dumps, and you are for all the world like the sun coming out.  Why, deary me, the back scullery ain’t by no means such a bad sort of place when you’re in it, Miss Jasmine.”

“It is very damp and gloomy, all the same,” answered Jasmine.  “I do hope you will be quick, Poppy, in washing up those uninteresting dinner-plates.  Now, look here, Primrose and Daisy and I have been making up such a lovely plan.  We want to take you out with us to-morrow; we are going to spend five shillings, quite lots of money, you know, and we are going to have dinner out, and perhaps tea out; and we are going a good long way.  Can you come with us to-morrow, Poppy?”

“Hold me,” said Poppy, suddenly stretching out her hand, “the scullery is damp and close, and my head a-going round.  Let’s get out into the back yard, Miss Jasmine.  Now I can breathe.  Oh, didn’t I say that London was dazzling, and isn’t it you three that has got the hearts of gold.  Say it all over again to me, please, Miss Jasmine.  What is it we’re all a-going to do to-morrow?”

“Oh, what a silly, Poppy, you are,” said Jasmine; “why even I do not get as excited as you do.  We are going out, and you are coming with us, and we are going to spend five shillings.”

Poppy’s cheeks flushed a vivid crimson, her eyes sparkled, and her small feet began involuntarily to dance.

“I has set my heart on something beauteous,” she said, “and, oh, dear, Miss Jasmine, you will do it, won’t you?  You won’t let none of them biting disappointments with which the air is choke full, as full as it is of smuts, come in the way.  If you three darling ladies spend a crown piece, and take me abroad, we’ll be on pleasure bent, and on pleasure alone.  Say so, do, Miss Jasmine.”

“Why, Poppy, of course we are going for pleasure; what do you mean?”

“Only that we won’t be going Cathedraling and Towering.  I don’t say nothing ag’in them places, but when I wants real pleasure, and a crown piece spent on me, I don’t go in for no Cathedraling.”

Jasmine laughed.  “I tell you what,” she said, “you shall choose the pleasure yourself, Poppy.  It’s your treat, and you shall choose.  Now, do say what hour you will be ready to start to-morrow, for we want to go early, and have a real long day.”

“Let’s think,” said Poppy.  “To-morrow is, yes, to-morrow is Thursday.  Cold joint to-morrow, and a salad made with stale lettuce which we gets cheap; potatoes boiled plain and not mashed, and a apple dumpling to follow.  The ladies is very particular that their pastry should be light.  Miss Slowcum says she can’t sleep a bit at night if her pastry is heavy.  She called me Sarah Martha Ann the last time I made it, and she looked most vinegary.  Yes, Miss Jasmine, the dinner’s plain to-morrow, and I’ll get up with the daybreak, and do my cleaning.  I don’t see why Aunt Flint shouldn’t let me go with you, miss.”