"Do you really think they have?" asked Fanny. "The woman told me when I bought mine that the price of watches was going up through so many men going to the war that very soon there would not be a good watch left, they were being sold so fast."
"I don't believe it," said Miriam, laughing. "They'll say anything to get you to buy their watches. But, now, mind, not a word to my cousin about this, or it's very likely my father will say I am not fit to be away from home by myself. Now, what colour do you like for a dress?" suddenly asked Miriam, determined to forget all disagreeable subjects if she could.
"I had a brown frock last time, and I liked that a good deal better than the one I have got now."
"Very well, we'll ask my cousin to get a brown among the patterns, though I am not sure that I shall like such a dull colour. What time have you got to go in?" she suddenly asked.
"Oh, it is my afternoon out," said Fanny, "so that if I get in by six o'clock, it will do. My mistress has her tea half an hour later when it is my turn to go out," explained Fanny.
"I generally go in the evening; but as I wanted to go to that place to-day, I thought I had better go while it was light. We shall have time to call at my cousin's and tell her to get the patterns for us," concluded Miriam, as they reached the tram terminus where they met earlier in the afternoon.
They would ride the next mile, and then, in the ordinary way, their roads separated; but as they went it was arranged that they should go together to see Miriam's cousin, and explain just what they wanted for a new dress, and also to inquire what the probable cost would be, and whether they would have to save up their money before buying the dress, or whether they could order it as soon as they had chosen the pattern, and pay for it in monthly instalments.
"We could pay four or five shillings out of our wages every month, and not miss it," said Miriam.
Fanny had thought the same thing when the woman was persuading her to buy the watch, but she was not so sure about it now. Still, she could see her friend's cousin and hear what she said, and decide what she would do afterwards.
So, as soon as they left the tramcar, they hurried to Mrs. Scott's, and told her what they had been talking about—that they both wanted new best dresses now; and they would like to know what it would cost to make them each a dress that they could wear at once, or even in the winter with an extra petticoat.