he shook the box, so
she sighed ruefully as she locked it, and put it back in its place on
the top shelf of the bookcase. She hoped Netta would not forget to
bring the half-sovereign she had promised to lend, though how the loan
was ever to be repaid she could not imagine. For to-day it seemed
enough if she had avoided Miss Roscoe's anger, and spared casting an
added worry on Father's already overburdened shoulders.

Netta was faithful to her word; she came to school with both the
ten-shilling piece and the half-crown which was to be her share of the
"hush money" for Emma. The two girls held a long whispered conference
together during the interval.

"I can't possibly go and pay Parker's myself," said Gwen. "You've no
idea what a row I got into last night for missing the bus. Winnie'll
keep an eye on me to-day at four o'clock, I can assure you. Could you
go?"

"Very sorry, but I've got to go straight home too. Some cousins are
coming to tea, and I have to ask Miss Evans to let me out of the
drawing class ten minutes earlier. Why not get Emma to go? We shall
have to see her to give her her tip."

"A good idea," said Gwen. "Emma understands all about it."

They found the housemaid when she was helping to lay the tables for
dinner, and managed to draw her aside for a private talk.

"Did the fresh china come last night?" they asked eagerly.

"Oh, yes! it came all right, and Miss Roscoe never said a word, so you
may think yourselves lucky," replied Emma.

"Here's the little present we promised you," said Netta, slipping the
five shillings into her hand.

"I hardly like taking it!" protested Emma, though she popped it
hastily into her pocket all the same.

"Could you do something more for us?" begged Gwen. "Will you call at
Parker's and pay for the broken china? Here's the money--it's one
pound two and six. Neither Netta nor I can possibly go."

"Oh, yes, I don't mind doing that!" returned Emma. "It's my night out
this evening, and I shall be down High Street, so I can easily call at
Parker's on my road. They don't close till eight o'clock."

"And you promise you'll never breathe a single word to anybody about
this?"

"Not likely!" declared Emma, as she turned away to finish laying her
table.

"Well, I'm thankful that's done with," thought Gwen. "It might have
been an awkward affair, and I've come out of it uncommonly well. I
feel as if I'd laid a ghost, and popped a stone on its grave."

It was all very we