How flushed Annie was! When she got into the open air she panted slightly. She looked up the street and down the street. She had had an awful time with Mrs Priestley, and she had quite forgotten the dress which was to be made for Mabel. She could not remedy that omission now, however; for nothing would induce her to see the terrible Mrs Priestley again. Her companions were not yet in sight, and she paced up and down thinking her own thoughts. After a time she felt calmer. The money was safe in her pocket. There would be no fuss for three months at least. Annie was a sort of girl who could not think of trouble three months ahead. In half-an-hour she felt quite happy. The memory of her depression vanished, and when the girls on their bicycles hove in sight she met them with a gay word. "You _have_ had a ride!" she said. "I have been out of Mrs Priestley's for ages." "I thought," said Agnes Moore, one of the girls, "that you would never be tired of an interview with a dressmaker, Annie. Is she quite as imposing as people describe her? I go to Mrs Arnold, you know." "She is withering," said Annie, with a laugh. "She invariably speaks of herself as `we,' and is a perfect mass of pomposity. I do wish, Agnes, you could have heard the withering tone in which she alluded to `Mrs Arnold's ladies.' Oh dear, oh dear! I nearly died with laughter." During the rest of the ride home Annie amused herself in taking off Mrs Priestley, which she did to the life. That very same evening thirty pounds in gold and notes had been transferred, first from Annie's pocket to that of Mabel Lushington, and then from Mabel Lushington to Priscilla Weir. Priscilla turned very white when her hand touched the little packet. "It hurts me," she said aloud. Mabel and Annie were both present when she made this remark, but neither of them asked her to explain herself. On the contrary, Mabel took Annie's arm and hurried her away. "How did you manage with Mrs Priestley?" she asked. "It is all right, love," said Annie. "She has added thirty pounds to your account." But Mabel looked not at all satisfied. "I didn't want it to be done in that way," she said. "Aunt Henrietta will be wild. She is always quarrelling with me about my dresses, and says that I spend twice too much on them. Good gracious! I do trust that I sha'n't get into trouble about this."