nge.
It was while they were at lunch that Annie seized the opportunity to
secure a few moments to herself. She had not yet had time even to glance
at the address which nurse had given her on the little slip of blue
paper. But it was now or never, if she were to seek the pawnbroker
without the others discovering where she was going.

Hester had ordered a very tempting lunch, and Nan was attacking her
nicely roasted chicken and bread sauce with appetite, when Annie,
snatching up a sandwich, sprang suddenly to her feet.

"I'm not hungry," she exclaimed, "and as there is so much to be done, I
won't waste time eating. Mrs. Willis wrote to me yesterday and asked me
to send her a small parcel. It contains a ring which she lent me, and as
it ought to be registered, I will go to the post-office now and get it
done while you are at lunch."

"But you really must eat something first," exclaimed Hester. "You will
be ill if you don't; the carriage is to call for us in a few minutes,
and you may just as well drive to the post-office in it; you would do it
in half the time."

"But I would rather walk," replied Annie. "I am perfectly sick of
driving. I see by Nan's face that lunch will be quite an affair of half
an hour, and I'll be back long before then."

She left the shop before Hester had time to remonstrate, and the next
moment found herself in the street.

"Now for it," she exclaimed, a little catch of excitement in her breath.
She took out her purse, opened it, and removing the slip of blue paper,
looked at the words written on it. The address rather surprised her. It
was a fancy goods shop, and was kept by a woman of the name of Myrtle.

"MRS. MYRTLE,
"Haberdashery and Fancy Goods Warehouse,
"30, Eden Street,"

was the address on the sheet of paper.

Annie had never in the course of her life come in contact with a live
pawnbroker, but she had a vague idea that pawnbrokers were of the male
species, and that they invariably had three gilt balls over their
establishments.

She was relieved rather than otherwise to find that this pawnbroker was
of the female sex, and fancied that it would be easier to deal with her
on this account. A policeman directed her to Eden Street, which was a
thoroughly respectable broad thoroughfare off the High Street.

Annie walked quickly until she came to number thirty. Then, raising her
eyes and seeing Mrs. Myrtle's name over the door, she boldly entered.
The shop was