The next morning Douglas held a whispered conversation with Nan before they got off to their respective schools.
“See what it costs but don’t let Helen know. She will be eighteen tomorrow, and if it isn’t worth a million, I am going to take some of my last month’s salary and get it for her.”
When Nan, who was not much of a shopper, approached the great windows of Richmond’s leading department store, what was her joy to see the very gown that Douglas had described to her displayed on Broad Street and marked down to a sum in the reach of a district school teacher.
“It looks so like Helen, somehow, that I can almost see her wearing it in place of the wax dummy,” exclaimed Nan.
“Must I charge it, Miss Carter?” asked the pleasant saleswoman as she took the precious dress out of the show-window.
“Please, Miss Luly, somehow I’d rather not charge it, but I haven’t the money today. Couldn’t you fix it up somehow so I could take it with me and bring you the money tomorrow? We don’t charge any more, but if I don’t buy it right now I’m so afraid somebody else might get it.”
The smiling saleswoman, who had been waiting on the Carters ever since the pretty Annette Sevier came a bride to Richmond, held a conference with the head of the firm on how this could be managed.
“Miss Nan Carter is very anxious not to charge, but can’t pay until tomorrow.”
“Ummm! A little irregular! What Carter is it?”
“Mr. Robert Carter’s daughter!”