"It's a penny," the boy grinned.

"Okay," Lizzy muttered as she pulled out her change purse and began to dig through its components. She handed over one of her few precious one-cent pieces. Her father had only given her a scarce amount of American money for important occasions.

"Well, now dat you've bought me last pape I am free for the rest of the afternoon. Would you like to join me and some friends for lunch?"

"I was hoping that you might ask me that," Lizzy replied, laying on the thick girlish charm she was dangerously capable of.

The boy had had doubts about her accepting his offer, so he was fairly surprised at her saying yes, "Oh, really?"

"You look surprised, Mr. Newsboy. I thought that you knew everything."

"The boy grinned sheepishly, "Apparently not."