Whenever Mrs Priestley wanted to crush a customer she alluded to Mrs Arnold, whose style was so execrable, and whose "ladies"--as Mrs Priestley spoke of them--could be known at any distance by the bad hang of their garments. Annie argued a little longer on the subject of her own dress, and finally a very simple frock was arranged for her, which would not cost the young lady much over three pounds. Mabel's letter was then produced. "This is very, very private," said Annie Brooke as she gave it to Mrs Priestley. "Dear Miss Lushington!" murmured Mrs Priestley. "We always take such a great interest in her clothes. It is our wish to do our very utmost to mould our garments round her fine figure." "Read the note, please," said Annie. Mrs Priestley did so. If she felt surprise at the contents, her face expressed nothing. "You will excuse us, miss," she said when she came to the end; "we will return in a few minutes." She left the room. Annie sank down into a chair, feeling limp. What if Mrs Priestley were to refuse? Such a possible and awful contingency had never even occurred to her. Mrs Priestley was away for some time, quite half-an-hour. When she did return the expression on her face had slightly changed. "We will come into our private sitting-room, miss," she said. She went first; Annie followed her. Mrs Priestley's private room was very small and very much crowded. Nearly the whole of it was taken up by an enormous desk containing various pigeon-holes. There was, however, room for two chairs. Annie was asked to seat herself in one. "We have been looking," said Mrs Priestley, "into our accounts. You, we understand, miss, are acquainted with the contents of the letter of our much-esteemed client, Miss Lushington." "Yes," said Annie; "I know all about it. As well as I remember, my great friend, Mabel Lushington, said that I could arrange the matter with you." "We are coming to that--if you have no objection, miss." Annie felt snubbed. It so happened that she had never before had any personal contact with the great Priestley. She had seen her beautiful gowns on several ladies at Hendon and on some of the best-dressed girls of the school, but not until now had she been face to face with this awful priestess of the art of dressmaking. "We would not wish," said Mrs Priestley, "to do anything to disoblige our clients and it is true that there have been times when it has been our pleasure to assist a lady in the manner indicated, but there has usually been a little sort of arrangement made in order to secure our money. You, we understand, come here to-day with such a proposal, do you not, miss?" Annie felt more and more uncomfortable. "I simply thought," she said, "that you would oblige. You see, Mabel is very rich." "If we were not firmly convinced on that point," interrupted Mrs Priestley, "we would not entertain the proposal for a quarter of a minute."