"If them's your sentiments," said Carrie, "you very soon can have your wish." "What in the world do you mean?" "Why, this. If you'll just allow me to take the pick of your wardrobe I can take away the things and sell them. I'll soon bring back the eight pounds--yes, and for that matter ten too." "Sell my clothes?" said Kitty. She stared at the other girl as if she did not believe the evidence of her own senses. "Yes. Did you never hear of a pawnshop, you dear little wiseacre?" "A pawnshop! Do you think I would allow my clothes to go to a pawnshop?" "I know nothing whatever about it; but I make you the proposal. I will transact the business for you if you'll allow me ten per cent, upon it. I can get you the money." "Oh, Carrie, it seems such a bitter shame," said Kitty. Her face was crimson; she went to the other side of the room, opened the window and put out her head. She wanted the cool air to soothe her scorched cheeks; her heart was thumping in her breast. Had matters indeed come to this, that she, Kitty Malone, was to pawn her pretty dresses, her trinkets, her whatnots! Alas! she could not do it. "I have often had to do it," said Carrie. "I know just how to manage. If you'll allow me to select the most suitable of your things, I'll bring you back the money in no time." "You are sure?" said Kitty, beginning to yield. "Certain--sure--positive. But you must allow me ten per cent." "I know nothing about percentage; but you may take every scrap that is over after you have got me the eight pounds." "Very well, that's a liberal offer," said Carrie. "Now, then, I may as well take a look at your clothes." "Oh, it seems such an awful thing to do," said Kitty. "Are you sure, quite sure, that no one will find it out?" "Not a bit of it; that is, if you'll be quick and not allow that other girl--Alice, you call her--to come into the room." "I'll lock the door," said Kitty. She rushed across the room with new hope, turned the key, and came back again to Carrie. "I never heard of anything quite so extraordinary in my life," she said. "And you--you call yourself a lady?" "No, I don't; I call myself a good-natured lump of a girl." "Well, perhaps you are; but to pawn one's things! Do you mean that I will never see them again?" "Oh, yes; whenever you like to return the money. They'll be kept safe enough for you. If you don't return the money, of course, they belong to the pawnbroker; but you have lots of time to think of that. Look here, I'll pawn them for a month; that will give you heaps of time to look round." "So it will," said Kitty. "And are you quite, quite certain that I shall have the money to-night?" "Oh, yes, if you won't talk so much, only act. Now, then, open your wardrobe." Kitty unlocked the door of the mahogany wardrobe which she shared with Alice, and Carrie began to pull her choice little garments about. Kitty went and stood by the window.