Annie now rushed off in a tumult of happiness. It was wonderful how easily her plans were being brought to perfection. She rode into Hendon on her nice free-wheel bicycle, accompanied by two or three other girls and also by a teacher. The teacher and the girls were to leave Annie at Mrs Priestley's, and to come again for her on their return from their own ride into the country. Annie would thus have plenty of time for her purpose. When she was admitted into Mrs Priestley's very fashionable waiting-room, hung round with dresses in various stages of development, and all equally fascinating according to Annie's ideas, she felt her heart beat with satisfaction. By-and-by the mistress of the establishment made her appearance. "I want to speak to you," said Annie, rising. "In one moment, miss." Mrs Priestley would not have treated Mabel Lushington in so off-hand a manner; but Annie Brooke was not one of her customers--at least, had not been up to the present; and as she was very busy sending off a large order to Paris, she did not trouble her head about keeping the young lady waiting for nearly a quarter of an hour. During this time Annie felt very indignant. Mrs Priestley dared to sit by a large desk in her presence and to write several orders which her forewoman was dictating to her. At last the letter was finished. Mrs Priestley said, "Get this posted immediately." Then she turned to Annie: "What can we do for you, miss?" "I have come to see you on a matter of some importance," said Annie. "I have come from Miss Lushington." "Oh, indeed, miss? We are very sorry that we were obliged to keep you waiting, but we have a wedding order at present on hand, and it is necessary to get some special laces and flowers from Paris without any delay. What can we do for Miss Lushington, miss?" "First of all," said Annie, "I want to know if you will make a dress for me. I want to wear it on the prize day at Mrs Lyttelton's school." "Yes, miss, we could manage; although the time is not very long. Still, we have so many of Mrs Lyttelton's pupils on our books that we should be sorry not to oblige." Mrs Priestley spoke as though she were royalty. "What sort of dress did you think of our making for you, miss?" "It must not be expensive," said Annie, whose secret thought was that she might purchase it partly out of her own money and partly out of Mabel Lushington's very abundant pocket-money. "I think a pale-blue muslin; and can you make it for about two guineas?" Mrs Priestley raised her eyebrows in a somewhat scornful manner. "Quite impossible, miss. But perhaps Mrs Arnold could do it for you."