She knew she could not hope to extract even a thousand dollars from Mrs.Peniston on the mere plea of paying Celeste's bill: Mrs.Peniston would expect to go over the dress-maker's account, and would make out the cheque to her and not to Lily.

And yet the money must be obtained before the day was over! "The debts I speak of are--different--not like tradesmen's bills," she began confusedly; but Mrs.Peniston's look made her almost afraid to continue.

Could it be that her aunt suspected anything?
The idea precipitated Lily's avowal.
"The fact is, I've played cards a good deal--bridge; the women all do it; girls too--it's expected.

Sometimes I've won--won a good deal--but lately I've been unlucky--and of course such debts can't be paid off gradually----" She paused: Mrs.Peniston's face seemed to be petrifying as she listened.
"Cards--you've played cards for money?
It's true, then: when I was told so I wouldn't believe it.

I won't ask if the other horrors I was told were true too; I've heard enough for the state of my nerves.