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"I should like to buy them, but my pockets are empty, and I haven't even a penny to pay for all this."
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Ebba was hard put not to chuckle at the Elf-boy's earnest words. She managed to keep a straight face as she replied, "You're a proper honest lad and no mistake. As it happens, Miz Bella here asked about my yarns and threads and was deciding on them before you came over." With a wink at the young elf and his hobbit companion she added in a loud whisper, "I think she wanted some help making up her mind."
Neviel, reassured, returned to looking over the yarns with Marigold's assistance. Across the table, Miz Bella had had to resort to hiding her laughter in her napkin at the widow's last sentence, which of course she had heard quite clearly.
Ebba decided it was time to conclude the deal. Quickly sorting through Miz Bella's choice of yarn, she placed the largest share of the pile to one side. "These I could let you go ahead and have without charge," she said briskly. Gesturing toward the remaining few skeins, she said, "These are harder for me to come by, and I would need to charge you for them."
Miz Bella, expecting to indulge in a bit of friendly haggling over all the goods she had selected, was surprised into a protest. "Surely you can't afford to give all this away," she said, laying a hand on the large pile of yarns.
"Mmmmm," Ebba shrugged enigmatically. "Happens I have a soft spot for anybody who can teach reading and writing. I didn't learn myself till I was grown, and it's a good thing I did then. I wouldn't have been able to take care of my family if I hadn't known my letters and ciphering and all. Now you can have this", pointing to the large pile, "if you'll pay me for these," indicating the smaller pile of threads. She named a price for the smaller pile which would scarcely make a dent in Miz Bella's purse.
Pleased at this bit of unexpected good fortune, Miz Bella agreed after only a little bit of haggling (for politeness' sake).