ration: "'YOU ARE TO BORROW THIRTY SHILLINGS ON THAT BEAUTIFUL
DIAMOND RING'" (_p._ 96).]

"It's the pawn-shop that gets over me, Miss Annie."

"Oh, _please_ don't let it get over you. What can the pawnbroker do to
you? Most people call him uncle, so I expect he's awfully good-natured."

"Uncle, indeed," exclaimed Mrs. Martin, tossing her head; "it's a word
you shouldn't know, Miss Annie Forest."

"But why shouldn't I? I never heard that uncles were wicked, except the
one who killed the babes in the wood. Now you will go; you will be an
angel! I know this special uncle who is to lend money on my ring will be
delightful!"

CHAPTER XII.

THE LAND OF PERHAPS.

There are some people who always get their way in life. They are by no
means the best people, nor the most amiable, nor the most thoughtful.
Sometimes, and not a very rare sometimes either, the poor, thoughtful
people go to the wall, when the thoughtless and impulsive and careless
come triumphantly out of their difficulties.

There never was a girl who got into a greater number of scrapes than
Annie Forest; but neither was there ever a girl who managed to right
herself more quickly. She knew the art of twisting other people round
her little finger. Having performed this feat to perfection on Mrs.
Martin, alias Patty, alias nursey, she went happily to bed, knowing that
all would be right for the present, and never giving a thought to the
evil but still distant hour when she must return her mother's ring to
Mrs. Willis.

Annie rose in good time in the morning, and took upon herself the
preparing of Mrs. Martin's breakfast. She lit a fire in the old lady's
sitting-room, and toasted her bread with her own fair hands, and made
the tea for her to drink.

Mrs. Martin started on her journey to Nortonbury with many fervent
blessings from Annie, who then returned in a high state of content to
her own room.

The parcel of cambric arrived in due time, and Annie cut out the first
of the three frocks that morning.

In order to keep their secret quite to themselves, Nora and Annie
decided to keep the door of the library locked while they were at work.
This arrangement was delightful to Nora, but it irritated Molly not a
little. When she came to see her sister, to be greeted by a locked
door--and to hear Annie's clear voice singing out from within, "Oh,
we're so busy, you darling of a Molly asthore. Don't disturb us for the
present, there's a love," and when