eadful predicament.

"You'll help us, Emma, won't you?" entreated Netta.

"Not I! It's none of my business."

"But suppose it were worth your while? Wouldn't half a crown buy you
something nice?"

"Nothing I'd care for."

"Five shillings, then?"

Emma's face showed signs of yielding.

"I don't want to get you into trouble if I can help it," she replied
more gently. "I dare say Parker's would replace the things if you was
willing to pay for them, and nothing need be said. I'm not one for
wanting scenes, and a scene there'd be if Miss Roscoe found her set
broken. She's a sharp tongue, as I know to my cost."

"Then, Emma, will you take away the box now, and hide it somewhere,
and we'll meet you in the pantry at four o'clock, and you can give it
to us, and we'll take it ourselves to Parker's, and ask them to send
some more china to-night. We'll bring you the five shillings to-morrow
morning. It shall be a present from us both, and thank you so much for
helping us! You promise you won't tell? Well, that's a weight off our
minds! Come, Gwen, we'll scoot!"

CHAPTER IV

A Delicate Transaction

Gwen had stood by, listening to Netta's proposals, and offered no
opposition. She was thankful to find any means of escape from the
terrible prospect of braving Miss Roscoe's wrath. The Principal was a
stern, even a severe woman, who never made allowances or admitted
excuses, and greatly resented any liberties. How would she regard such
an extreme liberty as an unauthorized visit to her private
sitting-room, to say nothing of the accident to the tea service? Gwen
shivered at the bare idea. She was aware that she and her sisters were
received on rather special terms at Rodenhurst. Winnie's teaching
scarcely compensated for the two younger ones' school fees, and did
not include the daily board for the three girls, which was given in by
Miss Roscoe, who knew of Mr. Gascoyne's poor circumstances. For this
reason Gwen had been urged to work her hardest, so as to be a credit
to her Form, and in some degree repay Miss Roscoe's generosity. The
Principal had shown an interest in her, particularly in relaxing an
old-established rule in her favour, and moving her up right in the
middle of a term. If she were detected in such a grave breach of
discipline, Miss Roscoe might consider her unworthy of any further
kindnesses, might even ask her father to take her away altogether from
Rodenhurst. To take her away! Why, the world woul