"Yes, indeed, two weeks ago. I could not let it go to Mrs. Pomeroy, for anything, she makes such a fuss about the girls' running in debt. She threatened to send Jenny Carpenter home for making a bill at the milliner's. Jenny wanted the woman to wait till she came back after holidays, but she said she had waited for several young ladies who never came back at all, and she meant to send it to Mrs. Pomeroy directly. Jenny did not believe she would dare do it, but she did, and Jenny was in trouble, I can tell you."
"I knew she was in disgrace that time that she did not come to the table," said Emily, "but I never heard exactly what the matter was. I don't know what would happen to me if she should send me home. To be sure I have a home to go to. But I should never dare to look my father in the face again."
"Is he so very particular?" asked Delia, who was folding her letter.
"Oh dear, yes; and so stern, if anything displeases him. Mrs. Pomeroy is nothing to him. The worst of it is, that only the other day Mrs. Pomeroy asked me in so many words whether I had made any bills, and almost without thinking, I told her no. Now if she gets hold of this one—"
"I would not be in your place for something," said Delia. "But hav'nt you money enough to pay it?"
"I have," replied Emily, looking steadfastly out of the window, "but—"
"But you want to spend it for something else, I suppose," said Delia, after waiting in vain for the conclusion of the sentence. "Now, Emily, if you will take my advice, you will pay this bill and have done with it, whether you ever have any money to spend again or not. Think how dreadful it would be to be sent home in disgrace, and have your name printed in the catalogue as expelled! Your father would never get over it."
"It would kill him, I do believe," said Emily, "and I am sure it would kill me. You are right, Delia. I must pay it at all risks."
"What risk would there be?" asked Delia, surprised. "I should think the risk was all the other way."
"I was thinking how I should get down there," answered Emily, seizing the first evasion that offered itself. "You see I have had permission to go out twice this week already, and I dare not ask again. She would not let me go, and she might suspect. I might send by Matilda Stone."