(“Light blue, my sweet young lady,” remarked Miss Wren, in a sprightly tone, “being best suited to your fair complexion and your flaxen curls.”)

“I say, if you’re attending,” proceeded Fledgeby, “it’ll pay better in this way. It’ll lead in a roundabout manner to your buying damage and waste of Pubsey and Co. at a nominal price, or even getting it for nothing.”

“Aha!” thought the dressmaker. “But you are not so roundabout, Little Eyes, that I don’t notice your answering for Pubsey and Co. after all! Little Eyes, Little Eyes, you’re too cunning by half.”

“And I take it for granted,” pursued Fledgeby, “that to get the most of your materials for nothing would be well worth your while, Miss Jenny?”

“You may take it for granted,” returned the dressmaker with many knowing nods, “that it’s always well worth my while to make money.”