Her smile was radiant and self-possessed. She was one of the world's workers and loved Lafe and Peg and the world with her whole honest young heart. "Thirty-two cents," she whispered. "That's a pile of money. I wish I could buy Lafe a posy. He does love 'em so, and he can't get out like Peg and me to see beautiful things." She stopped before a window where brilliant blossoms were exhibited. Ever since she began to work, one of the desires of Jinnie's soul had been to purchase a flower. As she scrutinized the scarlet and white carnations, the deep red roses, and the twining green vines, she murmured. "Peg loves Lafe even if she does bark at him. She won't mind if I buy him one. I'll make more money to-morrow." She opened the door of the shop and drew her unwieldy burden carefully inside. A girl stood back of the counter. "How much're your roses?" asked Jinnie, nodding toward the window and jingling the pennies in her pocket. "The white ones're five cents a piece," said the clerk, "and the red ones're ten.... Do y' want one?" "I'll take a white one," replied the purchaser. "Shall I wrap it in paper?" asked the other. "No, I'll carry it this way. I'd like to look at it going home." The girl passed the rose to Jinnie. "It smells nice, too," she commented. "Yes," assented Jinnie, delightedly, taking a whiff. Then she went on to the meat market to buy the small amount of meat required for the three of them. One of the men grinned at her from the back of the store, calling, "Hello, kid!" and Maudlin Bates, swinging idly on a stool, shouted, "What's wanted now, Jinnie?" and still another man came forward with the question, "Where'd you get the flower, lass?" "Bought it," replied Jinnie, leaning against the counter. "I got it next door for the cobbler. He's lame and can't get out." The market man turned to wait upon her. "Five cents' worth of chopped meat," ordered Jinnie, "and four sausages." "Ain't you afraid you'll overload your stomachs over there at the cobbler's shop?" laughed one of the men. "I'll tell you what I'll do, Jinnie ... Do you see that ring of sausage hangin' on that hook?" The girl nodded wonderingly, looking sidewise at Maudlin. "Well, if you'll give us a dance, a good one, mind you, still keepin' the wood on your back, I'll buy you the hull string. It'll last a week the way you folks eat meat." Jinnie's face reddened painfully, but the words appealed to her money-earning spirit, and with a curious sensation she glanced around. Could she dance, with the wondering, laughing, admiring gaze of the men upon her? And Maudlin, too! How she detested his lustful, doltish eyes!