e passage, and garb herself there.

"I've barely time," she said to Netta, who was acting scout. "For
goodness sake tell me if you see Thistles about! Is the coast clear?
Then I'll scoot."

At the end of the passage, however, she encountered danger. Winnie was
standing by the gymnasium door, and Gwen only just drew back in time
to avoid her. Chafing with impatience, she waited while Winnie
leisurely examined some papers on the notice board. Was she going to
stay there all the afternoon? At last she moved, and went inside the
gymnasium, and Gwen plucked up courage to make a dash for the street
door. She hurried along with such enormous strides that passers-by
turned to look at her and smiled, but careless of the notice she was
attracting, she even broke into a run as she caught sight of the
Market Hall clock. She was panting and altogether out of breath by the
time she reached the china shop, and not at all sure what she ought to
say. She marched up to the counter, and produced the bill which she
had received.

"Look here! You've sent me this," she began, "and I want to know
whether it was really paid or not."

"I'll just enquire, miss," said the assistant, referring to his
superior; then returning, after a whispered colloquy, he continued:
"No, miss. Mr. Evans says it certainly never has been paid. You've no
receipt for it?"

"I gave the money to the housemaid at school, and told her to take
it," faltered Gwen.

"Have you asked her about it, miss?"

"She's left, and I don't know where she's gone."

The assistant shook his head.

"I'm afraid, in that case, she won't want to be found, though perhaps
the police could trace her if you cared to prosecute."

"Would it not be simpler if we sent the account to your father,
missy?" suggested the shopwalker, coming to join the assistant at the
counter. "Ah! I forget whether we have your home address? Always best
to refer bills to one's father, isn't it? Then there's no trouble."

His tone verged on the familiar and impertinent. Gwen drew herself up
very straight.

"I prefer to manage it myself, thank you," she replied icily. "If you
will take ten shillings on account now, I will pay you the balance
after Christmas. Will you let it remain till then?"

"I dare say Mr. Parker wouldn't object--that's to say, if you don't
mind giving me your home address as a reference."

"You can put 'c/o Miss Goodwin, The Thorns, Manor Road, Stedburgh',"
said Gwen, who wished at a