the sort that ladies delight in. One side of it was
entirely devoted to the best class of haberdashery, the other was
extremely attractive with coloured wools and silks, and all sorts of
materials for crewel and other fancy works. A thin, pale girl, of about
sixteen, was attending to the haberdashery department, and a little old
lady, with pink cheeks, bright dark eyes and white hair, was busily
serving several customers at the fancy goods side.

Annie had to wait until these customers had completed their business.
The girl who had charge of the haberdashery asked if she could serve
her.

"I wish to speak to Mrs. Myrtle," replied Annie in a decided tone. The
little woman raised her head at hearing her own name pronounced, and
said in a respectful voice--

"I'll be at leisure to serve you in a moment, miss."

"She seems very nice," said Annie to herself; "she has a decidedly kind
face. What can there be objectionable in pawnbrokers, if she is one?
Perhaps I'd better call her aunt; she'll be sure to like it."

In a couple of moments Mrs. Myrtle was at leisure, and Annie went up to
the counter. Now that the critical instant had come, she felt her heart
beating quickly, and knew that her cheeks were pale. Annie could look
wonderfully pathetic when any emotion stirred her. She had a voice full
of vibrations, and her eyes could assume the dumb pleading expression of
a dog's.

"I want to speak to you about a very private matter," she said, looking
full at Mrs. Myrtle.

The little woman could not help giving her a glance of great surprise.
What could such a pretty, nicely-dressed young lady want with her; then
suddenly it flashed through her mind that Annie must want to buy a
present; perhaps the present was for her sweetheart; if so, the state of
affairs was perfectly natural.

"Yes, miss," she said, in a cordial voice of sympathy, "but Netty, my
niece, is a bit deaf and won't hear a word you're saying. I have got
some really nice things, miss, and quite suitable; tobacco pouches made
of different coloured plushes, and flowers traced very beautifully on
them; you could work the pouch yourself, miss, and it would look most
suitable; then I've got braces, too; they're quite the newest thing, and
can be embroidered with any colour, and cases for gentlemen's evening
ties, they really are very new; shall I show you some, miss?"

"Oh, no, thank you," said Annie in a choking voice. "I'm in an awful
hurry and I don't want