“I told you he had not,” said Anna, shaking out a lace handkerchief, which diffused an odor of violet through the room.

“Then why did you pay him, honey?” asked Mrs. Carroll, wonderingly, of Charlotte.

“I paid him just because he had trusted us,” said she, in a voice which rang out clearly with the brave honesty of youth.

Suddenly she looked from her mother to her aunt with accusing eyes.  “I don’t believe it is right to go on forever buying things and never paying for them, just because a gentleman is kind enough to let you,” said she.

“I thought you said it was the grocer, Charlotte, honey,” said Mrs. Carroll, helplessly.

“He is a gentleman, if he is a grocer,” said Charlotte, and her cheek blazed.

Anna Carroll looked sharply at her from her drawer, then went on folding the handkerchief.

“He is a lawyer, and as well-educated as papa,” Charlotte said, further, in her clear, brave voice, and she returned her aunt’s look unflinchingly, although her cheeks continued to blush.

Mrs. Carroll still looked bewildered.  “How much did you pay him, Charlotte, dear?” she asked.

“Twenty-five dollars.”

“The whole of the check Arthur gave you?”

“Yes, Amy.”

“But you might have bought yourself a hat, honey, and you did need one.  I can’t quite understand why you paid the grocer, when he had not refused to let us have more groceries, and you might have bought a hat.”

Anna, packing the drawer, began to laugh, and Charlotte, after frowning a second, laughed also.

“My hat with the roses looks very nice yet, Amy, dear,” said she, sweetly and consolingly.

“But it is getting so late for roses,” Mrs. Carroll returned.

“The milliner in New York where Ina got her hats has been paid; maybe she will trust Charlotte for a hat.  Don’t worry, Amy,” said Anna, coolly.

Mrs. Carroll brightened up.  “Sure enough, Anna,” said she.  “She was paid because she wouldn’t trust us, and maybe now she will be willing to again.  I will go in to-morrow, and I think I can get a hat for myself.”

“I saw the dress-maker looking out of the window,” said Charlotte.

“She did very well,” said Mrs. Carroll.

“I suppose there is no money to pay her?” said Charlotte.

“No, honey, I suppose not, but dear Ina has the dresses and you have your new one.”

“That makes me think.  I think her bill is on the table.  It came two or three days ago.  I haven’t opened it, because it looked like a bill.  Eddy brought it in when I was in here.  Yes, there it is.”  Charlotte, near the table, took up the envelope and opened it.  “It is only one hundred and fifty-eight dollars,” said she.

“That is very cheap for so many pretty dresses,” said Mrs. Carroll, “but I suppose it is all clear profit.  I should think dress-makers would get rich very easily.”