"But they don't understand, of course--it isn't half what I
need, now. I really don't quite know what to do. And so I came to--"
My words died away into unintelligibility.
"Anticipated your allowance a little? Well, well, how much do you need?"
he asked indulgently.
"I don't exactly know; not much," I cried eagerly, "I haven't asked Father
to send it all at once. Two or three thousand dollars would be a great
help--for the present."
"Two or three thousand! Is it little Nelly Winship who is talking about
thousands? And what important scheme has she in mind?"
His tone was playful.
"To pay my bills.'"
"Bills aggregating thousands?" He dropped his paper cutter sharply. "Is it
possible that in so short a time--if the recital be not too painful, pray
explain."
"Oh, it's simple enough; the dressmaker would say: 'Do let me make you
this, it's such a pleasure to fit you;' or, 'That would be the rage, if
you'd introduce it.' And Mrs. Van Dam begged me to buy a hat from a
protegee just starting in business, because it would be a help to have the
beautiful Miss Winship for a customer. It did help the milliner, too, for
I bought three and they were printed in the papers.
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