“But, my sweetheart—” began Mrs Trevor anxiously, and then checked herself at the thought of another possible explanation. “Did someone give you some money, dear, that I knew nothing about?”
“Oh no! I haven’t had any money, only General Digby’s to-day.”
“Then how— I am very pleased and delighted to have the palm, but I can’t enjoy it properly until I know a little more about how it came into your possession. It is such a very big present for a little girl. How did you get all the money, dear?”
Pam smiled with an air of innocent pride.
“It wasn’t—all—money!” she said, smiling.
“Not all money? What do you mean? If it was not all money, what was the rest?”
“Clothes!”
“Clothes!” cried Mrs Trevor vaguely.
“Clothes!” echoed her husband.
“Clothes!” shrieked Betty in a shrill treble.