"Father's always an immense long time at the gunmaker's," he said; "we shall have time to look at all Greenop's things. I hope he's got some new ones." "And I want to buy some hemp-seed," said Mary. Mr Greenop welcomed the children with his usual brisk cheerfulness, and had, as Jackie had hoped, a good many new things to show them; the nicest of all was a bullfinch which piped the tune of "Bonnie Dundee" "at command," as his owner expressed it. The children were delighted with it, and immediately asked the price, which was their custom with every article of Mr Greenop's stock, and being told, proceeded to examine further. They came upon a charming squirrel with the bushiest tail possible, and while they were admiring it Mr Greenop was called to attend on a customer. "Jackie," said Mary suddenly, "if you might choose, what would you have out of all the shop?" Jackie looked thoughtful. His birthday was approaching, and though he would not have hinted at such a thing, it did pass through his mind that Mary's question might have something to do with that occasion. He studied the matter therefore with the attention it deserved, for he had to consider both his own inclinations and the limits of Mary's purse. At last he said deliberately: "The squirrel. What would _you_ choose?" "The piping bullfinch," said Mary, without an instant's hesitation. "Why," exclaimed Jackie, "that's almost the most expensive thing in the shop!" "I don't see that that matters at all," answered Mary. "You asked me what I liked best, and I like that best--much." More customers and acquaintances had now crowded in, and the little shop was quite full. "I believe we've seen everything," said Jackie; "let's get up in the dog-cart and wait there for father. Oh," he continued with a sigh, when they were seated again, "_how_ jolly it must be to be Greenop! Wouldn't you like to be him?" "No," said Mary decidedly, "I shouldn't like it at all; I couldn't bear it." "Why?" asked Jackie. "Oh, because he's quite a common man, and tucks up his shirt sleeves, and keeps a shop." "Well, that's just the nice part of it," said Jackie eagerly--"so interesting, always to be among the animals and things. And then his shop's in the very best part of Dorminster, where he can see everything pass, and all his friends drop in and tell him the news. I don't expect he's ever dull." "I daresay not," said Mary, with a shrug of contempt; "but I shouldn't like to be a common vulgar man like that." Jackie got quite hot. "I don't believe Greenop's vulgar at all," he said. "Look how he stuffed those pheasants for father. I heard father say, `Greenop's an uncommonly clever fellow!' Father likes to talk to him, so he can't be vulgar." Mary did not want another quarrel; she tried to soften her speech down. "But you see I couldn't be _Mr_. Greenop," she said, "I could only be _Mrs_. Greenop, and sit in that dull little hole at the back of the shop and darn all day."