Miss Egerton was pleased to see Primrose so bright, and was glad to know she was really earning something; and Jasmine and Daisy prepared the cheeriest welcomes possible for her evening after evening on her return. Jasmine, however, by no means intended Primrose to be the only one who was to bring assistance to the household purse. Jasmine knew that they had all come up to London on purpose to be educated, or to educate themselves, sufficiently to earn their livings. She considered that six months' experience of the ups and downs of London life might bear fruit in her case as well as in her sister's. Jasmine was supposed to be having her style formed by Miss Egerton's daily tuitions, but Miss Egerton's words of encouragement over her pupil's productions were decidedly meagre; and Jasmine, though she loved her, had long ago confided to Daisy that she considered Miss Egerton's manner had a damping effect on enthusiasm. One bitterly cold March day Jasmine had been sitting for hours scribbling away at her novel. Daisy petted the cat, looked over some well-known picture-books, and finally sank back into the recesses of one of the most comfortable chairs in the room and began to think about the Prince. "Don't go to sleep, Daisy," called out Jasmine presently. "I'm coming over in a minute to consult you." Nothing could possibly be more gratifying to Daisy than to know that Jasmine wished to ask her advice. She accordingly roused herself, ceased to think of the Prince, and said, in a very bright little voice-- "I'll help you the best I can, Jasmine." "It's just this," said Jasmine, dashing down her pen on the top of her manuscript, and causing thereby a great blot--"it's just this, Daisy; I've got to do something, and you have got to help me." "Oh, I'm sure if I can," said little Daisy, still in that slightly patronizing voice, for the little maid's head was almost turned by being thus appealed to. "Is it to sew on buttons for you, Jasmine? for though I don't like sewing on buttons, I'll do it, or even--even--I'll darn your stockings, dear Jasmine." Jasmine laughed. "It's nothing of that kind, Eyebright; it's something much, much more important. You know, Daisy, what we came up to London for--why, of course you know why we left all our dear friends, and are living in about the very dullest part of London--of course you know?" "Was it?" said Daisy, looking dubious; "was it--I never could quite make out--because Primrose did not like Mrs. Ellsworthy?" "Oh, you silly, silly little thing! What a dreadful thing to get into your head, Daisy-flower! I did think you knew why we came to town, and gave everything up, and made ourselves so miserable." "We did make ourselves miserable," sighed Daisy, "and I had to take Mr. Dove for my friend. I like to have him for my friend, though. What was the reason, please, Jasmine?"