Both girls reddened as the question was asked.
"Yes, I have," said Fanny. "I believe they have cheated me, and am going to take my watch back."
"They won't give you the money back," interrupted Miriam. "I tried it when the man came for the last month's money, but I am going to tell them that I can't pay any more, and see what Judds himself says about it."
"I can't pay either, and get other things that I want. It don't sound much, perhaps, but three shillings off of every month's money isn't so little as it seems when you have to buy shoes and stockings and caps and aprons, and a new dress every now and then," said Fanny, in a complaining tone.
"That's just it," answered the other. "You and I both want new Sunday frocks, and I mean to have one, too, for my cousin, where we went to tea last Sunday, says mine is getting very shabby."
"And I know mine is," answered Fanny, in an aggrieved tone, "for my mother gave the frock my aunt sent for me to my little sister."
"What a shame!" exclaimed Miriam. "I do call that mean."
"Yes. Mother seems to think I have more money than I can spend because I get ten shillings a month."
"Does she know about your watch?" asked her friend.
"She knows I have got it, for I wore it the first holiday I went home after I had it; but she doesn't know I have got to pay such a lot for it. She thinks the first ten shillings bought it, and she made a fine fuss about that, I can tell you. Said I knew nothing about buying a watch."