ks as if
Emma had decamped with the one pound two and six. She's left the
school, you know."

"I didn't know," sighed Gwen.

"Yes, she went ten days ago. Haven't you noticed there's a new
housemaid waiting at dinner? You must be as blind as a bat!"

"I'm afraid I am done for," said Gwen dramatically.

"Oh, I shouldn't give up too soon if I were you! I suppose, by the by,
you wouldn't care to tell your father?"

"I'd rather die!"

"Then you'll have to go somehow to Parker's, and ask if they've made a
mistake. If, as I strongly suspect, Emma really didn't pay it, then
you might get them to take part on account now, and leave the rest
till after Christmas. What could you give them?"

"I don't possess more than sixpence. I'm bankrupt, and in debt to you,
too."

"But you're sure to get something at Christmas, aren't you?"

"I expect so."

"Well, I'll tell you what I'll do: I'll lend you another ten
shillings. That will make a sovereign altogether, and you can pay me
back when you've had your Christmas presents."

"Oh, Netta, how good of you!"

"Not so particularly. It's only a loan, and I expect you to give it
back."

"Of course."

"You'd better go to Parker's this afternoon at four."

"I daren't!" said Gwen, who felt that she was floundering deeper and
deeper into a morass of trouble. "You don't know what a scrape I got
into at home for stopping behind that other time. Beatrice made me
promise absolutely always to come home with Winnie and Lesbia. I
should have to give all kinds of explanations."

"I'm supposed to go straight home too, on these dark afternoons. My
mother's rather particular about it."

"Then what's to be done?"

"You'll have to make a bolt in the dinner hour. There's nothing else
for it."

"Umph! It's risky."

"You must risk something, O my cautious philosopher! Nobody but
Thistles is about just then, and I think we can outwit Thistles. I'll
bring the half-sovereign to school with me to-morrow, and you can take
it to Parker's, in case it's wanted. I'm afraid you'll find you'll
need it."

"I should like to prosecute Emma--she richly deserves it!"

"Couldn't do that without giving ourselves away, so you'll have to
restrain your righteous wrath, my child!"

Gwen spent the rest of the day feeling as if a black shadow had
suddenly fallen over her life. She had believed the episode of the
china was completely finished with, and here it had cropped up again
like some horrible boge