Blanche had been sauntering outside looking into other shop windows. She was in a very good humour to-day.
"It depends on the style, Miss Tina; a cheap one could be had for eighteen or nineteen shillings. I've seen some at twenty guineas. And I've seen them at five shillings and sixpence for the working classes."
Christina said no more; the children were very quiet till they reached their hotel, then Puggy said in the entrance hall as Dawn was wishing them good-bye:
"Look here! You shan't go home and leave us in this fix. It's share alike. We said so."
"Come into our sitting-room. Father and mother are out," suggested Christina, "and we can talk quietly without any one hearing us."
So to the sitting-room they went, and it was with very sober faces they anxiously consulted together. "Would they take it back and let us have a cheaper one?" Christina asked.
"Of course they wouldn't!" exclaimed Dawn. "There wasn't another nice one in the shop. Besides, we ought to be willing to sacerryfice anything for Miss Bertha. We must sell our clothes or something. There's lots of ways of getting money, you know; lots, and awfully nice ways too. I'll give my last half-crown. I was a cad to mind giving it for Miss Bertha, and mind you two clear your money bags clean out. Not one penny do you keep back!"
Christina hastily left the room, and soon returned with her money-box. Puggy went away and brought his last pennies. They put their money in a pile and counted it up. With Dawn's twelve shillings and sixpence they made out exactly two pounds one shilling and sevenpence halfpenny, and then, with pencil and paper, they came to the alarming conclusion that they must get together two pounds two shillings and fourpence halfpenny more.
"We shall never do it. How can we pay it to-night?" Christina's face was very woe-begone.
"Oh, we must ask them to wait for their money for a few days," said Dawn airily. "We'll do it!"