"Mother says I have not done growing yet," explained Fanny, "and so it will not do to have a frock to put away."
"No, indeed; and there is no occasion for it," said Mrs. Scott. "You can have a nice neat material, suitable for any season. Now, about the price. It must, of course, depend upon what you girls can afford, in the first place. Could you afford to pay twenty-five shillings for a dress, both of you? Of course, it will be made and everything found for that money."
Fanny shook her head at once, for the sum to her seemed enormous.
Miriam laid her hand on her arm. "Look here," she said, "my cousin would not want you to pay all that at once, she told you. How much should we have to pay a month for a dress like that?" asked Miriam.
"Well, that would depend upon the material you chose. You see, it is all in the way of business," she said, turning and speaking more directly to Fanny. "If I have to give credit, I have to charge for it, and the longer I have to wait for my money, the more I must charge for the dress. You understand what I mean," she added, looking at the two girls.
Miriam looked vexed that her cousin spoke so plainly, for she was afraid Fanny would not venture to order a new dress just now.
"But you could give us a little credit, Cousin Madge, without charging for it," she said.
"Well, it would depend upon what you called a little," said Mrs. Scott. "I suppose you have both saved something towards the new dresses, and the next month's money, we'll say, pays a little more than half what the dress is to cost. Now, if you can pay half when you take the dress home, and the second half a month later, then I should charge you very little indeed for that month's credit; but if I had to take the whole amount in monthly instalments of a few shillings a month, then I should have to charge a good deal more for the dresses. Now, think the matter over between now and Sunday, and make up your mind what you can afford to pay, and how you can pay it. John will bring me some patterns and prices from the shop on Friday, and I shall be ready to tell you what I can do when you get out on Sunday."
"We shan't be able to come to tea," said Miriam.
"Well, you can come in as you go to church, if you like; I don't mind," said Mrs. Scott.