"I can't possibly go and pay Parker's myself," said Gwen. "You've no idea what a row I got into last night for missing the bus. Winnie'll keep an eye on me to-day at four o'clock, I can assure you. Could you go?"
"Very sorry, but I've got to go straight home too. Some cousins are coming to tea, and I have to ask Miss Evans to let me out of the drawing class ten minutes earlier. Why not get Emma to go? We shall have to see her to give her her tip."
"A good idea," said Gwen. "Emma understands all about it."
They found the housemaid when she was helping to lay the tables for dinner, and managed to draw her aside for a private talk.
"Did the fresh china come last night?" they asked eagerly.
"Oh, yes! it came all right, and Miss Roscoe never said a word, so you may think yourselves lucky," replied Emma.
"Here's the little present we promised you," said Netta, slipping the five shillings into her hand.
"I hardly like taking it!" protested Emma, though she popped it hastily into her pocket all the same.
"Could you do something more for us?" begged Gwen. "Will you call at Parker's and pay for the broken china? Here's the money—it's one pound two and six. Neither Netta nor I can possibly go."
"Oh, yes, I don't mind doing that!" returned Emma. "It's my night out this evening, and I shall be down High Street, so I can easily call at Parker's on my road. They don't close till eight o'clock."