"Why, Miss McPherson gives you your allowance every month, doesn't she?" "Yes, of course." "Well, I would ask her to keep it for me, and just go to her when I wanted any money to use. Then when Antoinette wants to borrow, you can tell her the truth, that you haven't any. Besides, you won't be nearly so apt to spend money if you have to ask Miss McPherson every time; and you know, Tessy, you are rather extravagant," concluded Emma, with a quaint little air of wisdom. "But perhaps Miss McPherson won't want to be troubled," objected Tessy. "She won't mind, if you tell her the reason why. Of course you need not mention Antoinette, but you can just say that you know you are apt to throw away your money, and you want to save it for a special purpose." "What a wise young woman—'a Daniel come to judgment!'" said Belle, who had been reading Shakespeare. "But really, Tessy, I think this plan an excellent one. Antoinette should not be indulged in such ways, if only for her own sake. If she were poor, it would be different, but I imagine her father is quite as rich as yours." "Yes, indeed. Well, Emma, I believe I will try this plan of yours. But what shall I do in the mean time? I thought I would knit some curtains, but I haven't even money to buy the cotton." "You say Antoinette owes you three shillings?" "She owes me four and sixpence in all." "Trust to me, Tessy. I'll get it out of her. She is a little too bad." Meantime Calista and her friend, Mary Settson, were walking up and down under the trees at one side of the play-ground. Calista's black brows were frowning, and she looked vexed and mortified. "I wish I had never come to school at all," said she, vehemently. "Something is always coming up to make we feel what a miserable, dependent wretch I am." "Don't use such words, Calista," said Mary. "They are true words, and why shouldn't I use them?" "But don't you believe your aunt will let you do anything? I should think she would give you a little money if you ask her in the right time and way." "Much you know about it. I tell you, Mary, I might just as well expect gold to rain down out of that cloud. The cloud will give me a wetting when I go home, and Aunt Priscilla will give me a scolding, and that is all I shall get from either of them." "Oh, I forgot," said Mary. "Papa asked Miss Druett to let you stay all night with us, and she said you might. So we will have a good time, and I will teach you to knit the feather stitch that Miss Jessy showed me." Calista's frown relaxed a little. "Your father is very kind, I am sure; but, Mary, I declare I am ashamed to go." "Why?" "My frock is so shabby for one thing, and you and Miss Alice are always so neat." "Nonsense!" "And besides, you are always inviting me, and I never can ask you." "Nonsense!" said Mary again. "Just as if we did not know how things were. I am glad, because I think perhaps papa will contrive some way to help us out of this scrape."