"What is the matter?" asked Annie. She had guessed, however, what the matter was, and her heart beat as she made the remark, for that morning she had seen, lying on the breakfast-table amongst a pile of letters directed to Lady Lushington, one in the well-known writing of Mrs Priestley; and if Annie had any doubt on that point, the dressmaker's address was printed on the flap of the envelope. Her innocent eyes, however, never looked more innocent as she glanced up now from the blank sheet of paper on which she was about to write. "Of course you know nothing about it, child," said Lady Lushington, "but it is beyond belief; Mabel's extravagance exceeds all bounds; I will not permit it for a single moment." "Mabel's extravagance?" said Annie, looking surprised. "But surely dear Mabel is not extravagant. I have never, never noticed it; I assure you I haven't." "Then what do you say to this?" said Lady Lushington. "That odious woman Priestley sends me a bill for one term's clothing; total amount seventy pounds!" "Seventy pounds," said Annie, "for Mabel's dress?" She pretended to look shocked. "It is impossible," she said slowly. "There must be a mistake." "Of course there is a mistake. That abominable woman thinks that I am so rich that I don't mind paying any amount. But she will learn that I am not to be imposed upon." "What do you think you will say to her?" asked Annie. "I am sure I don't know. I had best speak to Mabel herself." "Oh, I wouldn't do that," said Annie. "May gets so confused; dear May has no head for business; she won't have the slightest idea what dress she did get. I know there was that lovely, expensive white satin for the school dance, and that beautiful dress of _crepe-de-Chine_ with pearly trimmings which she wore on the day of the break-up--the day when she received her great honour, her prize for literature; and there was that pale-blue evening-dress of hers, and the rose-coloured silk." "But I don't remember those dresses at all. Where are they now?" "I dare say she has left them at school," said Annie. "Left them at school?" "She would probably not think them fine enough for you." "What absurdity! And even if she did get such uncalled-for, such unsuitable dresses, the sum total from a country dressmaker would not amount to seventy pounds." "Well, I tell you what I would do if I were you," said Annie. "If you will let me, I will write in your name for the items. Mrs Priestley has only sent you `To account rendered,' has she not?" "That is a good idea," said Lady Lushington. "I must speak to Mabel about her frocks when she appears. As a matter of fact, I do not mind what I spend on her now that she has come out, or partly come out, for of course she won't be really introduced into society until she is presented next year. But seventy pounds for one schoolgirl's wardrobe for a single term is too much." "Then I may write?" said Annie, her hand trembling a little.