"Never mind my looks," I said. "I am quite a proud girl to-day. I am, in fact, almost grown-up; I have taken the first step upwards." Now, to be grown-up was Rita's greatest ambition in all the world. She was four months older than I. She would be sixteen early in January, and I should have to wait until the beginning of May for the event. But, of course, she would not be "out" for at least two years. "You are not really grown-up, and you needn't suppose you will be for ages and ages," said Agnes. "Why, look at Rita; you have made her quite cross." "You do talk in such an absurd way," said Rita. "But what is it? Out with it!" "Well, I've begun to get an allowance." "A what?" said Agnes. "An allowance." "You don't mean a dress allowance?" said Rita. "Yes, that's just what I do mean; and I've got my first quarter's money in my pocket. What's more, I'm as rich as Croesus; I have more money than I think any one girl could by any possibility spend. Now, what do you think of me?" Agnes had been walking on Rita's other side. She showed her estimation of my upward step in the world's ladder by running round to my side and placing me in the middle. "Tell us all about it," she said, and she slipped her hand through my arm. "There's not much to tell. Father thought that--or at least my step-mother thought that I ought to have money to spend on dress, and I have got ten pounds." "For a year?" asked Agnes. "No; for a quarter. I am to have ten pounds every quarter. Think of it!" Now, Agnes Swan knew quite well that when her allowance was given to her it would not approach anything like that royal sum. She therefore glanced at me and said in a low, pathetic voice, "What remarkably pretty ears you have got, Dumps!" I made no answer. I continued as though I had not heard her: "And I have the money--two banknotes--in my pocket; and I am going to choose some dresses now, and I thought perhaps you two girls would like to come with me." "How splendid! Where shall we go?" "Not to Wallis's," I said firmly. "Why not to Wallis's? What special hatred have you for that shop?" "I do not wish to go there," I answered. "I want to dress myself in West End style." "Then," said Agnes, "nothing can be easier. We'll wait just here and take the first 'bus to Oxford Street. We'll get down there and press our noses against the shop windows. It's Christmas-time, and things are so bright. But if you want dresses now you'll have to get them ready-made, for no shop will make your dresses in time for Christmas." "I don't really know that I want much dress," I said. "I have got the money to do what I like with." "Of course you have." Rita looked at me anxiously. "I must spend some of it on dress, of course, but I've got ten pounds. It seems almost as though it could never be spent. Oh, here's a 'bus! Shall we go on the top?"