Then, one evening--Estelle Wilmot"-- Lorry paused before this name, lingered on it, paused after it--"said to me--she waylaid me at the back gate--I always had to go in and out by the alley way--no wash by the front gate for them! Anyhow, she stopped me and said--all red and nervous--'You mustn't come for the wash any more.' "'Why not ?' says I.'Is the family complaining ?' "'No,' says she, 'but we owe you for two years.' "'What makes you think that ?' said I, astonished and pretty badly scared for the minute.
"'I've kept account,' she said.

And she was fiery red.

'I keep a list of all we owe, so as to have it when we're able to pay.'" "What a woman she is!" exclaimed Arthur.

"I suppose she's putting by out of the profits of that little millinery store of hers to pay off the family debts.

I hear she's doing well." "A smashing business," replied Lorry, in a tone that made Arthur glance quickly at him.