Document:

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                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

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                           LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

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                         BANKBOSTON RETAIL FINANCE INC.
                                    AGENT FOR
                          THE LENDERS REFERENCED HEREIN

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                ================================================

                               MSS-DELAWARE, INC.
                                  THE BORROWER

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                                  July 31, 1998
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                      <C>
ARTICLE 1 - DEFINITIONS:..............................................       2

ARTICLE 2 - THE REVOLVING CREDIT:.....................................      28
      2-1.     Establishment of  Revolving Credit.....................      28
      2-2.     Initial Reserves, Changes to Reserves..................      30
      2-3.     Advances in Excess of Borrowing Base...................      31
      2-4.     Risks of Value of Collateral...........................      31
      2-5.     Loan Requests..........................................      32
      2-6.     Making of Loans Under Revolving Credit.................      34
      2-7.     The Loan Account.......................................      34
      2-8.     The Revolving Credit Notes.............................      35
      2-9.     Payment of The Loan Account............................      36
      2-10.    Interest Rates. .......................................      37
      2-11.    Commitment Fee.........................................      37
      2-12.    Agent's Fee............................................      38
      2-13.    Line (Unused) Fee......................................      38
      2-14.    Early Termination Fee..................................      38
      2-15.    Concerning Fees........................................      38
      2-16.    Agent's and Lenders' Discretion........................      38
      2-17.    Procedures For Issuance of L/C's.......................      39
      2-18.    Fees For L/C's.........................................      40
      2-19.    Cash Collateralization of L/Cs.........................      40
      2-20.    Concerning L/C's.......................................      41
      2-21.    Changed Circumstances..................................      43
      2-22.    Increased Costs........................................      44
      2-23.    Lenders' Commitments...................................      45
      2-24.    Replacement of Certain Lenders.........................      46

ARTICLE 3 - CONDITIONS PRECEDENT:.....................................      47
      3-1.     Corporate Due Diligence................................      48
      3-2.     Opinion................................................      48
      3-3.     Additional Documents...................................      48
      3-4.     Officers' Certificates.................................      48
      3-5.     Representations and Warranties.........................      48
      3-6.     Minimum Excess Availability at Time of Initial
               Advance................................................      48
      3-7.     All Fees and Expenses Paid.............................      48
      3-8.     Acquisition and Anticipated Merger Consummated.........      49
      3-9.     Borrower's Assets......................................      49
      3-10.    Lien Search............................................      49
      3-11.    Perfection of Collateral...............................      49
      3-12.    Insurance..............................................      49
      3-13.    Sourcing Agreement.....................................      50
      3-14.    No Suspension Event....................................      50
      3-15.    No Adverse Change......................................      50
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                      <C>
ARTICLE 4 - GENERAL REPRESENTATIONS, COVENANTS AND WARRANTIES:
      4-1.     Payment and Performance of Liabilities.................      50
      4-2.     Due Organization - Corporate Authorization - No
               Conflicts..............................................      50
      4-3.     Trade Names............................................      51
      4-4.     Intellectual Property..................................      52
      4-5.     Locations..............................................      52
      4-6.     Title to Assets........................................      53
      4-7.     Indebtedness...........................................      55
      4-8.     Insurance Policies.....................................      55
      4-9.     Licenses...............................................      56
      4-10.    Leases.................................................      57
      4-11.    Requirements of Law....................................      57
      4-12.    Maintain Properties....................................      57
      4-13.    Pay Taxes..............................................      58
      4-14.    No Margin Stock........................................      59
      4-15.    ERISA..................................................      59
      4-16.    Hazardous Materials....................................      60
      4-17.    Litigation.............................................      60
      4-18.    Dividends or Investments...............................      60
      4-19.    Loans..................................................      62
      4-20.    Protection of Assets...................................      63
      4-21.    Line of Business.......................................      63
      4-22.    Affiliate Transactions.................................      63
      4-23.    Additional Assurances..................................      63
      4-24.    Adequacy of Disclosure.................................      64
      4-25.    Investments............................................      65
      4-26.    Other Covenants........................................      65

ARTICLE 5 - FINANCIAL REPORTING AND PERFORMANCE COVENANTS:............      65
      5-1.     Maintain Records.......................................      65
      5-2.     Access to Records......................................      66
      5-3.     Prompt Notice to Agent.................................      67
      5-4.     Borrowing Base Certificate.............................      68
      5-5.     Weekly Reports.........................................      68
      5-6.     Monthly Reports........................................      68
      5-7.     Quarterly Reports......................................      69
      5-8.     Annual Reports.........................................      69
      5-9.     Officers' Certificates.................................      70
      5-10.    Inventories, Appraisals, and Audits....................      71
      5-11.    Additional Financial Information.......................      72
      5-12.    Financial Performance Covenants........................      72

ARTICLE 6 - USE AND COLLECTION OF COLLATERAL:.........................      73
      6-1.     Use of Inventory Collateral............................      73
      6-2.     Adjustments and Allowances.............................      73
      6-3.     Validity of Accounts...................................      73
      6-4.     Notification to Account Debtors........................      74
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                      <C>
ARTICLE 7 - CASH MANAGEMENT. PAYMENT OF LIABILITIES:..................      74
      7-1      Depository Accounts....................................      74
      7-2.     Credit Card Receipts...................................      75
      7-3.     The Concentration, Blocked, and Operating Accounts.....      75
      7-4.     Proceeds and Collection of Accounts....................      76
      7-5.     Payment of Liabilities.................................      77
      7-6.     The Operating Account..................................      78

ARTICLE 8 - GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST:...............................      78
      8-1.     Grant of Security Interest.............................      78
      8-2.     Extent and Duration of Security Interest...............      80

ARTICLE 9 - AGENT AS BORROWER'S ATTORNEY-IN-FACT:.....................      80
      9-1.     Appointment as Attorney-In-Fact........................      80
      9-2.     No Obligation to Act...................................      81

ARTICLE 10 - EVENTS OF DEFAULT:.......................................      81
      10-1.    Failure to Pay Revolving Credit........................      81
      10-2.    Failure To Make Other Payments.........................      81
      10-3.    Failure to Perform Covenant or Liability (No Grace
               Period)................................................      82
      10-4.    Failure to Perform Covenant or Liability (Limited
               Grace Period)..........................................      82
      10-5.    Failure to Perform Covenant or Liability (Grace
               Period)................................................      82
      10-6.    Misrepresentation......................................      82
      10-7.    Default of Other Debt..................................      82
      10-8.    Default of Leases......................................      82
      10-9.    Uninsured Casualty Loss................................      83
      10-10.   Judgment.  Restraint of Business.......................      83
      10-11.   Business Failure.......................................      83
      10-12.   Bankruptcy.............................................      83
      10-13.   Default by Guarantor or Subsidiary.....................      84
      10-14.   Indictment - Forfeiture................................      84
      10-15.   Termination of Guaranty................................      84
      10-16.   Challenge to Loan Documents............................      84
      10-17.   Executive Management...................................      84
      10-18.   Change in Control......................................      85

ARTICLE 11 - RIGHTS AND REMEDIES UPON DEFAULT:........................      85
      11-1.    Rights of Enforcement..................................      85
      11-2.    Sale of Collateral.....................................      85
      11-3.    Occupation of Business Location........................      87
      11-4.    Grant of Nonexclusive License..........................      87
      11-5.    Assembly of Collateral.................................      88
      11-6.    Rights and Remedies....................................      88
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                      <C>
ARTICLE 12 - NOTICES:.................................................      88
      12-1.    Notice Addresses.......................................      88
      12-2.    Notice Given...........................................      89

ARTICLE 13 - TERM:....................................................      90
      13-1.    Termination of Revolving Credit........................      90
      13-2.    Effect of Termination..................................      90

ARTICLE 14 - GENERAL:.................................................      90
      14-1.    Protection of Collateral...............................      90
      14-2.    Successors and Assigns.................................      91
      14-3.    Severability...........................................      91
      14-4.    Amendments.  Course of Dealing.........................      91
      14-5.    Power of Attorney......................................      92
      14-6.    Application of Proceeds................................      92
      14-7.    Costs and Expenses of Agent and Of Lenders.............      92
      14-8.    Copies and Facsimiles..................................      93
      14-9.    Massachusetts Law......................................      93
      14-10.   Consent to Jurisdiction................................      93
      14-11.   Indemnification........................................      94
      14-12.   Rules of Construction..................................      94
      14-13.   Intent.................................................      96
      14-14.   Right of Set-Off.......................................      97
      14-15.   Maximum Interest Rate..................................      97
      14-16.   Waivers................................................      97
      14-17.   Confidentiality........................................      99
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

                                    EXHIBITS

      2-8         :     Revolving Credit Note
      2-23        :     Voting Rights Provisions
      4-2         :     Related Entities
      4-3         :     Trade Names
      4-5         :     Locations, Leases, and Landlords
      4-6         :     Encumbrances
      4-7         :     Indebtedness
      4-8         :     Insurance Policies
      4-10        :     Capital Leases
      4-13        :     Taxes
      4-17        :     Litigation
      4-22        :     Permitted Management Fees and Other
                        Affiliated Transactions
      4-23        :     Excluded Assets
      5-4         :     Borrowing Base Certificate
      5-12(a)     :     Financial Performance Covenants
      5-12(b)     :     Business Plan
      6-3         :     Bonds and Deposits
      7-1         :     DDA's.
      7-2         :     Credit Card Arrangements
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT                       BANKBOSTON RETAIL FINANCE INC.
                                                                          Agent

                                                                  July 31, 1998

      THIS AGREEMENT is made between

             BankBoston Retail Finance Inc. (in such capacity, herein the
      "AGENT"), a Delaware corporation with offices at 40 Broad Street, Boston,
      Massachusetts 02109, as agent for the ratable benefit of the "LENDERS",
      who are, at present, those financial institutions identified on the
      signature pages of this Agreement and who in the future are those Persons
      (if any) who become "Lenders" in accordance with the provisions of Section
      2-23, below,

            and

            MSS-Delaware, Inc. (hereinafter, the "BORROWER"), a Delaware
      corporation with its principal executive offices at 11 Penn Plaza, New
      York, New York 10001

in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and benefits to be
derived herefrom,

                                   WITNESSETH:

      WHEREAS, the Seller and Specialty Acquisition Corp. are parties to an
Acquisition Agreement dated as of July 22, 1998, pursuant to which the Seller
has agreed to sell to Specialty Acquisition Corp. all of the issued and
outstanding shares of common stock of the Borrower; and

      WHEREAS, subsequent to the consummation of such acquisition, it is
anticipated that Specialty Acquisition Corp. will merge with and into the
Borrower; and

      WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide financing to
the Borrower to finance up to $8,000,000.00 of the liabilities of Specialty
Acquisition Corp to the Seller and assumed by the Borrower as a result of the
Merger, and to provide financing for working capital and other general corporate
purposes.
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

      NOW THEREFORE, it is agreed between the parties as follows:

ARTICLE 1 - DEFINITIONS:

      As herein used, the following terms have the following meanings or are
defined in the section of this Agreement so indicated:

      "A/R ADVANCE RATE":     80%.

      "A/R  RESERVES": Such Reserves as may be established from time to time by
            the Agent in the Agent's discretion with respect to the
            determination of the collectability in the ordinary course of the
            Acceptable Accounts. Without limiting the generality of the
            foregoing, A/R Reserves may include (but are not limited to)
            reserves based on the following:

                        (i)   The aggregate of all Accounts due on account of
                              credit card sales which are more than five (5)
                              Business Days past due.

                        (ii)  The aggregate of all Accounts as to which the
                              Account Debtor holds or is entitled to any claim,
                              counterclaim, set off, or chargeback, to the
                              extent of such claims, counterclaims, setoffs and
                              chargebacks.

      "ACCEPTABLE ACCOUNTS": Such of the Borrower's Accounts and Accounts
            Receivable arising out of credit card sales in the ordinary course
            of the Borrower's business for goods sold and/or services rendered
            by the Borrower, which Accounts and Accounts Receivable have been
            determined by the Agent to be satisfactory and have been earned by
            performance and are owed to the Borrower by such of the Borrower's
            credit card processors as the Agent determines to be reasonably
            satisfactory, in the Agent's discretion in each instance.

      "ACCEPTABLE BLANK STOCK INVENTORY": Inventory of the Borrower which
            consists of blank t-shirts and other items of apparel which are in
            the possession of third Persons for processing, which Inventory
            otherwise would be deemed Acceptable Inventory and as to which the
            Agent has received an agreement from such processor in form and
            substance reasonably acceptable to the Agent.

                                        2
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

      "ACCEPTABLE L/C INVENTORY": Inventory which is the subject of a
            Documentary L/C in favor of a foreign manufacturer or vendor of such
            Inventory, which Inventory is to be manufactured for, or delivered
            to, the Borrower and will become Acceptable In-Transit Inventory
            within seventy-five (75) days after the date of issuance of the
            Documentary L/C.

      "ACCEPTABLE IN-TRANSIT INVENTORY": Inventory-in-transit to the Borrower,
            title to which has passed to the Borrower, which Inventory has been
            placed with a carrier (f.o.b.) for shipment to the Borrower, and
            which Inventory is scheduled to be received within fifty (50) days
            at the Borrower's distribution center, as to which Inventory the
            Agent has a perfected security interest which is prior and superior
            to all security interests, claims, and all Encumbrances other than
            Permitted Encumbrances (it being understood, however, that the Agent
            will not require possession of the Documents of Title or any foreign
            filings to be deemed "perfected"); provided that such Inventory
            shall be deemed to be Acceptable In-Transit Inventory (a) only if
            the Agent has received an agreement (to the extent relevant to such
            Inventory) with (i) Federated Department Stores, Inc. and each other
            sourcing agent under other sourcing agreements, and (ii) each of the
            Borrower's custom brokers, each satisfactory in form and substance
            to the Agent and (b) only to the extent that such Inventory does not
            exceed the following percentages of all Acceptable Inventory for the
            following periods:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                        Month of Each Year            Maximum Percentage
                        ------------------            ------------------
<S>                                                   <C>
                              January                 25%
                              February                17%
                              March                   15%
                              April                   15%
                              May                     20%
                              June                    25%
                              July                    25%
                              August                  25%
                              September               15%
                              October                 15%
                              November                15%
                              December                25%
</TABLE>

            Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Agent, periodically (but in no
            event in months other than July through October of any year), may,
            in its reasonable discretion, include Inventory which otherwise
            satisfies the requirements of this definition but for the fact

                                        3
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

            that title has not yet passed to the Borrower as Acceptable
            In-Transit Inventory, but only if the Agent has received written
            confirmation from the applicable sourcing agent that title to such
            Inventory will pass to the Borrower upon receipt of payment of a sum
            certain and the Borrower has requested the Agent to make, and has
            Availability for, a Revolving Credit Loan to pay such sourcing agent
            in such amount.

      "ACCEPTABLE INVENTORY": Such of the Borrower's Inventory, at such
            locations, and of such types, character, qualities and quantities,
            as the Agent in its sole discretion from time to time determines to
            be acceptable for borrowing, including, without limitation,
            Acceptable In-Transit Inventory and Acceptable L/C Inventory (but
            excluding Acceptable Blank Stock Inventory), as to which Inventory,
            the Agent has a perfected security interest which is prior and
            superior to all security interests, claims, and all Encumbrances
            other than Permitted Encumbrances. Without limiting the generality
            of the foregoing, Acceptable Inventory shall in no event include
            Inventory that is not salable, non-merchandise categories (such as
            labels, bags and packaging), Inventory not located in the United
            States (other than Acceptable In-Transit Inventory and Acceptable
            L/C Inventory), samples, damaged goods, return-to-vendor
            merchandise, and packaway Inventory.

      "ACCOUNTS" and "ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE" include, without limitation,
            "accounts" as defined in the UCC, and also all: accounts, accounts
            receivable, credit card receivables, notes, drafts, acceptances, and
            other forms of obligations and receivables and rights to payment for
            credit extended and for goods sold or leased, or services rendered,
            whether or not yet earned by performance; all "contract rights" as
            formerly defined in the UCC; all Inventory which gave rise thereto,
            and all rights associated with such Inventory, including the right
            of stoppage in transit; and all reclaimed, returned, rejected or
            repossessed Inventory (if any) the sale of which gave rise to any
            Account.

      "ACH": Automated clearing house.

      "ACCOUNT DEBTOR": Has the meaning given that term in the UCC and includes
            all credit card processors of the Borrower.

      "ACQUISITION": The purchase by Specialty Acquisition Corp. of all of the
            capital stock of the Borrower, a wholly

                                        4
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

            owned subsidiary of the Seller, on terms and conditions reasonably
            satisfactory to the Agent.

      "AFFECTED LENDER":  Is defined in Section 2-24 hereof.

      "AFFILIATE": With respect to any two Persons, a relationship in which (a)
            one holds, directly or indirectly, not less than Twenty Five Percent
            (25%) of the capital stock, beneficial interests, partnership
            interests, or other equity interests of the other; or (b) one has,
            directly or indirectly, the right, under ordinary circumstances, to
            vote for the election of a majority of the directors (or other body
            or Person who has those powers customarily vested in a board of
            directors of a corporation); or (c) not less than Twenty Five
            Percent (25%) of their respective ownership is directly or
            indirectly held by the same third Person.

      "AGENT": Is defined in the Preamble.

      "AGENT'S FEE": Is defined in Section 2-12.

      "AGENT'S RIGHTS AND REMEDIES": Is defined in Section 11-6.

      "ALTERNATE BASE RATE": The higher of (i) Base or (ii) one- half of one
            percent (0.50%) plus the Federal Funds Effective Rate (rounded
            upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%).

      "ANTICIPATED MERGER": The merger of Specialty Acquisition Corp. with and
            into the Borrower on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to
            the Agent.

      "AVAILABILITY":   Is defined in Section 2-1(b)(i).

      "AVAILABILITY RESERVES": Such reserves, without duplication, as the Agent
            from time to time determines in the Agent's reasonable discretion as
            being appropriate to reflect the impediments to the Agent's ability
            to realize upon the Collateral. Without limiting the generality of
            the foregoing, Availability Reserves may include (but are not
            limited to) reserves based on the following:

                  (i)   Rent (based upon past due rent whether or not a
                        Landlord's Waiver, acceptable to the Agent, has been
                        received by the Agent).

                  (ii)  In store customer credits.

                                        5
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

                  (iii) Gift Certificates.

                  (iv)  Frequent Shopper Programs.

                  (v)   Layaways and Customer Deposits

                  (vi)  Taxes and other governmental charges, including, ad
                        valorem, personal property, and other taxes which might
                        have priority over the security interests of the Agent
                        in the Collateral.

                  (vii) Carriers', warehousemen's, materialmen's, repairmen's
                        and mechanics liens which might have priority over the
                        security interests of the Agent in the Collateral.

                  (viii) Landing Costs.

      "AVAILABLE CASH FLOW": For any period, an amount equal to the following,
            calculated on a rolling four (4) quarters basis: (a) EBITDA, minus
            (b) the sum of (i) income taxes paid in cash during such period, and
            (ii) the cash portion paid in respect of Capital Expenditures made
            or incurred during such period, and (iii) cash Interest Expense for
            such period, and (iv) regularly scheduled cash principal amounts
            that become payable (whether or not paid) in respect of Indebtedness
            (including Capital Leases) during such period (but excluding any
            principal repayments on account of the Revolving Credit Loans in the
            ordinary course which do not result from a reduction in the
            Commitments), and (v) cash distributions, cash dividends, and other
            cash payments made by the Borrower on account of its Preferred Stock
            during such period all as determined in accordance with GAAP.

      "B/S  MANAGEMENT FEES": Fees and other amounts payable from time to time
            under that certain Management Services Agreement dated July 31, 1998
            between the Borrower and MSS Acquisition Corp. II, as amended and in
            effect (provided that any such amendments shall be subject to the
            prior consent of the Agent).

      "BANKRUPTCY CODE": Title 11, U.S.C., as amended from time to time.

      "BASE": The Base Rate announced from time to time by BankBoston, N.A. (or
            any successor in interest to BankBoston, N.A.). In the event that
            said bank (or any such successor) ceases to announce such a rate,
            "Base"

                                        6
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

            shall refer to that rate or index announced or published from time
            to time as the Agent, in good faith, designates as the functional
            equivalent to said Base Rate. Any change in "Base" shall be
            effective, for purposes of the calculation of interest due
            hereunder, when such change is made effective generally by the bank
            on whose rate or index "Base" is being set. In all events, interest
            which is determined by reference to Base (or any successor to Base)
            shall be calculated on a 365 or 366 day year (as applicable) and
            actual days elapsed.

      "BASE MARGIN": Initially, 25 basis points. The Base Margin is subject to
            reduction in accordance with the Pricing Change upon the
            satisfaction of the Interest Rate Reduction Conditions.

      "BASE MARGIN LOAN": Each Revolving Credit Loan while bearing interest at
            the Base Margin Rate.

      "BASE MARGIN RATE": The aggregate of the Alternate Base Rate plus the Base
            Margin.

      "BLANK STOCK ADVANCE RATE": Fifty percent (50%).

      "BLOCKED ACCOUNT": Is defined in Section 7-3.

      "BORROWER": Is defined in the Preamble.

      "BORROWING BASE": Is defined in Section 2-1(b)(ii).

      "BUSINESS DAY": Any day other than (a) a Saturday or Sunday; (b) any day
            on which banks in Boston, Massachusetts or New York, New York,
            generally are not open to the general public for the purpose of
            conducting commercial banking business; or (c) a day on which the
            Agent is not open to the general public to conduct business.

      "BUSINESS PLAN": The Borrower's business plan annexed hereto as EXHIBIT
            5-12(b) and any revision, amendment, or update of such business plan
            to which the Agent has provided its written sign-off.

      "CAPITAL EXPENDITURES": The expenditure of funds or the incurrence of
            liabilities which are capitalized in accordance with GAAP, provided
            that for purposes of this Agreement, capital expenditures funded by
            the proceeds from the incurrence of Indebtedness permitted
            hereunder, by the proceeds received from the sale of assets
            permitted pursuant to Section 4-12(d) hereof, by casualty insurance
            proceeds or condemnation proceeds

                                        7
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

            shall, to the extent of such proceeds, not be deemed Capital
            Expenditures.

      "CAPITAL LEASE": Any lease which is capitalized in accordance with GAAP.

      "CASH EQUIVALENTS" shall mean, as to any Person, (i) securities issued or
            directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States or any
            agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and
            credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof) having
            maturities of not more than twelve (12) months from the date of
            acquisition by such Person, (ii) time deposits and certificates of
            deposit of any commercial bank incorporated in the United States of
            recognized standing having capital and surplus in excess of
            $100,000,000 with maturities of not more than twelve (12) months
            from the date of acquisition by such Person, (iii) repurchase
            obligations with a term of not more than seven (7) days for
            underlying securities of the types described in clause (i) above,
            provided that there shall be no restriction on the maturities of
            such underlying securities pursuant to this clause (iii) entered
            into with a bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (ii)
            above, (iv) commercial paper issued by the parent corporation of any
            commercial bank (provided that the parent corporation and the bank
            are both incorporated in the United States) of recognized standing
            having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 and commercial
            paper issued by any Person incorporated in the United States rated
            at least A-1 or the equivalent thereof by Standard & Poor's Ratings
            Group or at least P-1 or the equivalent thereof by Moody's Investors
            Service, Inc. and in each case maturing not more than twelve (12)
            months after the date of acquisition by such Person, and (v)
            investments in money market funds substantially all of whose assets
            are comprised of securities of the types described in clauses (i)
            through (v) above.

      "CHANGE IN CONTROL": The occurrence of any of the following:

                  (a) Unless and until an initial public offering of the
            Borrower's equity securities has been consummated, the acquisition,
            by any group of persons (within the meaning of the Securities
            Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) or by any Person, of beneficial
            ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities and
            Exchange Commission) of 51% or more of the issued and outstanding
            capital stock of the

                                        8
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

            Borrower having the right, under ordinary circumstances, to vote for
            the election of directors of the Borrower, provided that the
            ownership of 51% or more of such capital stock by Bear Stearns &
            Co., Inc. (or its Affiliates) and/or Management, on a fully diluted
            basis (i.e. after taking into account options for the purchase of
            such capital stock held by Management), individually or in the
            aggregate, shall not constitute a Change in Control.

                  (b) After an initial public offering of the Borrower's equity
            securities has been consummated, the acquisition, by any group of
            persons (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
            as amended) or by any Person, of beneficial ownership (within the
            meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission) of
            30% or more of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the
            Borrower (on a fully diluted basis (i.e. after taking into account
            options for the purchase of such capital stock held by Management))
            having the right, under ordinary circumstances, to vote for the
            election of directors of the Borrower.

                  (c) Persons ("Continuing Directors") who were directors of the
            Borrower on the first day of any period consisting of twelve (12)
            consecutive calendar months (the first of which twelve (12) month
            periods commencing with the first day of the month during which this
            Agreement was executed), or (ii) subsequently became directors of
            the Borrower and whose initial election or initial nomination for
            election subsequent to that date was approved by a majority of the
            Continuing Directors then on the board of directors of the Borrower
            cease, for any reason other than death or disability, to constitute
            a majority of the directors of the Borrower, provided that any
            replacement of a director designated and employed by Bear, Stearns &
            Co., Inc. or its Affiliates with another Person so designated and
            employed shall in no event constitute a "Change in Control" and such
            replacement shall be deemed a Continuing Director.

      "CHATTEL PAPER": Has the meaning given that term in the UCC.

      "COLLATERAL": Is defined in Section 8-1.

      "COMMITMENT FEE": Is defined in Section 2-11.

      "COMMITMENT": Subject to 2-23, as follows:

                                        9
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
LENDER                DOLLAR                     COMMITMENT
                      COMMITMENT                 PERCENTAGE
----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                   <C>                        <C>
BANKBOSTON            $25,000,000.00             54.50%
RETAIL
FINANCE INC.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
IBJ SCHRODER          $20,000,000.00             45.50%
BUSINESS
CREDIT
CORPORATION
----------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

      "CONCENTRATION ACCOUNT": Is defined in Section 7-3.

      "COST": The lower of

                        (a) the calculated cost of purchases, as determined from
                  invoices received by the Borrower, the Borrower's purchase
                  journal or stock ledger, based upon the Borrower's accounting
                  practices, known to the Lender, which practices are in effect
                  on the date on which this Agreement was executed; or

                        (b) the cost equivalent of the lowest ticketed or
                  promoted price at which the subject inventory is offered to
                  the public, after all mark-downs (whether or not such price is
                  then reflected on the Borrower's accounting system), which
                  cost equivalent is determined in accordance with the retail
                  method of accounting, reflecting the Borrower's historic
                  business practices.

            "Cost" does not include inventory capitalization costs or other
            non-purchase price charges (such as freight) used in the Borrower's
            calculation of cost of goods sold.

      "COST FACTOR": The result of 1 minus the Borrower's then cumulative markup
            percent derived from the Borrower's purchase journal on a rolling
            12-month basis.

      "COSTS OF COLLECTION": Includes, without limitation, all attorneys'
            reasonable fees and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by
            the Agent's and any Lender's attorneys, and all reasonable costs
            incurred by the Agent or any Lender in the administration of the
            Liabilities and/or the Loan Documents, including, without
            limitation, reasonable costs and expenses associated with travel on
            behalf of the Agent or any

                                       10
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

            Lender, which costs and expenses are directly or indirectly related
            to or in respect of the Agent's and any Lender's: administration and
            management of the Liabilities (other than customary overhead
            expenses); negotiation, documentation, and amendment of any Loan
            Document; or efforts to preserve, protect, collect, or enforce the
            Collateral, the Liabilities, and/or the Agent's Rights and Remedies
            and/or any of the Agent's rights and remedies against or in respect
            of any guarantor or other person liable in respect of the
            Liabilities (whether or not suit is instituted in connection with
            such efforts). The Costs of Collection are Liabilities, and at the
            Agent's option may bear interest at the highest post-default rate
            which the Agent may charge the Borrower hereunder as if such had
            been lent, advanced, and credited by the Agent to, or for the
            benefit of, the Borrower. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
            entitlement of any Lender to "Costs of Collection" is limited to the
            extent provided in Section 14-7 hereof.

      "DDA": Any checking or other demand daily depository account maintained by
            the Borrower.

      "DEFAULT INTEREST EVENT": The occurrence of any of the following:

            (a) The acceleration of the time for payment of the Liabilities upon
            the occurrence of an Event of Default.

            (b) The occurrence of any Event of Default under Sections 10-1,
            10-2, 10-11, or 10-12 hereof.

            (c) The failure of the Borrower to comply with the provisions of
            Section 5-4 (which failure continues for two Business Days),
            Sections 5-5, 5-6, or 5-7 (which failure continues for fifteen (15)
            Business Days), Section 5-12, or Article 7.

      "DEPOSIT ACCOUNT": Has the meaning given that term in the UCC.

      "DIVIDEND CONDITIONS": The satisfaction of each of the following
            conditions:

                  (i) No Event of Default exists or would arise as a result of
            the subject payment.

                  (ii) The amount of the payment shall not exceed Available Cash
            Flow.

                                       11
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

                  (iii) Availability immediately after giving effect to such
            payments shall be at least $3,000,000.00.

                  (iv) Such payments may not be made until five (5) Business
            Days after the Agent's receipt of the quarterly financial statements
            required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5-7 hereof, provided
            that the first such payment shall not be made until the fiscal
            quarter ending July, 1999 and then only upon the Agent's receipt of
            the financial statements for the quarter ending July, 1999.

      "DOCUMENTS": Has the meaning given that term in the UCC.

      "DOCUMENTS OF TITLE": Has the meaning given that term in the UCC.

      "DOLLAR COMMITMENT": As provided in the Definition of "Commitment", above.

      "EARLY TERMINATION FEE": Is defined in Section 2-14.

      "EBITDA": The Borrower's earnings before interest, income taxes, B/S
            Management Fees, depreciation, and amortization, each as determined
            in accordance with GAAP.

      "EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN": As defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA.

      "ENCUMBRANCE": Each of the following:

                  (a) Any security interest, mortgage, pledge, hypothecation,
            lien, attachment, or charge of any kind (including any agreement to
            give any of the foregoing); the interest of a lessor under a Capital
            Lease; conditional sale or other title retention agreement; sale (to
            the extent of recourse) of accounts receivable or chattel paper; or
            other arrangement pursuant to which any Person is entitled to any
            preference or priority with respect to the property or assets of
            another Person or the income or profits of such other Person or
            which constitutes an interest in property to secure an obligation;
            each of the foregoing whether consensual or non-consensual and
            whether arising by way of agreement, operation of law, legal process
            or otherwise.

                  (b) The filing of any financing statement under the UCC or
            comparable law of any jurisdiction.

                                       12

<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

      "END  DATE": The date upon which both (a) all Liabilities (other than
            indemnities, not then due and payable, which survive repayment of
            the Revolving Credit Loans and L/Cs and termination of the
            Commitments) have been paid in full and (b) all obligations of any
            Lender to make loans and advances and to provide other financial
            accommodations to the Borrower hereunder shall have been irrevocably
            terminated.

      "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS": All of the following:

                        (a) Any and all federal, state, local or municipal laws,
      rules, orders, regulations, statutes, ordinances, codes, decrees or
      requirements which regulate or relate to, or impose any standard of
      conduct or liability on account of or in respect to environmental
      protection matters, including, without limitation, Hazardous Materials, as
      are now or hereafter in effect.

                        (b) The common law relating to damage to Persons or
      property from Hazardous Materials.

      "EQUIPMENT": Includes, without limitation, "equipment" as defined in the
            UCC, and also all motor vehicles, rolling stock, machinery, office
            equipment, plant equipment, tools, dies, molds, store fixtures,
            furniture, and other goods, property, and assets which are used
            and/or were purchased for use in the operation or furtherance of the
            Borrower's business, and any and all accessions or additions
            thereto, and substitutions therefor.

      "ERISA": The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

      "ERISA AFFILIATE": Any Person which is under common control with the
            Borrower within the meaning of Section 4001 of ERISA or is part of a
            group which includes the Borrower and which would be treated as a
            single employer under Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of
            1986, as amended.

      "EURODOLLAR BUSINESS DAY": Any day which is both a Business Day and a day
            on which the principal Eurodollar market in which BankBoston, N.A.
            participates is open for dealings in United States Dollar deposits.

      "EURODOLLAR LOAN": Any Revolving Credit Loan which bears interest at a
            Eurodollar Rate.

                                       13
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

      "EURODOLLAR OFFER RATE": That rate of interest (rounded upwards, if
            necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) determined by the Agent to be
            the highest prevailing rate per annum at which deposits on U.S.
            Dollars are offered to BankBoston, N.A. (or if BankBoston, N.A. is
            not offered such deposits or does not participate in a Eurodollar
            market, to such banking institution as the Agent may reasonably
            select upon two (2) Business Days prior notice to the Borrower), by
            first-class banks in the Eurodollar market in which BankBoston, N.A.
            participates at or about 10:00 AM (Boston Time) two (2) Eurodollar
            Business Days before the first day of the Interest Period for the
            subject Eurodollar Loan, for a deposit approximately in the amount
            of the subject loan for a period of time approximately equal to such
            Interest Period.

      "EURODOLLAR MARGIN": Initially, 225 basis points. The Eurodollar Margin is
            subject to reduction in accordance with the Pricing Change upon the
            satisfaction of the Interest Rate Reduction Conditions.

      "EURODOLLAR RATE": That per annum rate determined as the aggregate of the
            Eurodollar Offer Rate plus the Eurodollar Margin except that, in the
            event that it is determined by the Agent that any Lender may be
            subject to the Reserve Percentage, the "Eurodollar Rate" shall mean,
            with respect to any Eurodollar Loans then outstanding (from the date
            on which that Reserve Percentage first became applicable to such
            loans), and with respect to all Eurodollar Loans thereafter made, an
            interest rate per annum equal the sum of (a) plus (b), where:

                  (a) is the decimal equivalent of the following fraction:

                              Eurodollar Offer Rate
                              ---------------------
                           1 minus Reserve Percentage

                  (b) is the applicable Eurodollar Margin.

      The Eurodollar Rate shall be calculated on a 360 day year and for actual
      days elapsed.

      "EVENTS OF DEFAULT": Is defined in Article 10.

      "FEDERAL FUNDS EFFECTIVE RATE": For any day, a fluctuating per annum
            interest rate equal to the weighted average of the rates on
            overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal
            Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers, as published

                                       14
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

            on that date (or on the then next succeeding Business Day, if not
            one) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, provided that if such
            a rate is not so published for a day which is a Business Day, the
            Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be the average of quotations for
            such day on such transactions received by the Agent from three
            federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by the Agent.

      "FEE  LETTER": That letter, styled the "Fee Letter" between the Borrower
            and the Agent, as such letter may from time to time be amended.

      "FIXED CHARGE COVERAGE RATIO": For any period, the ratio of (a) the sum of
            (i) EBITDA for such period, minus (ii) Capital Expenditures made
            during such period, minus (iii) income taxes paid in cash during
            such period to (b) the sum of (i) cash Interest Expenses for such
            period, plus (ii) scheduled principal amounts that become payable
            (whether or not paid) in respect of Indebtedness (including Capital
            Leases) during such period (but excluding any principal repayments
            on account of the Revolving Credit Loans in the ordinary course
            which do not result from a reduction in the Commitments), plus (iii)
            cash distributions, cash dividends, and other cash payments made by
            the Borrower on account of its Preferred Stock during such period,
            all as calculated on a rolling four quarters basis and as determined
            in accordance with GAAP.

      "FIXTURES": Has the meaning given that term in the UCC.

      "GAAP": Principles which are consistent with those promulgated or adopted
            by the Financial Accounting Standards Board and its predecessors (or
            successors) in effect and applicable to that accounting period in
            respect of which reference to GAAP is being made, provided, however,
            in the event of a Material Accounting Change, then unless otherwise
            specifically agreed to by the Agent, (a) the Borrower's compliance
            with the financial performance covenants imposed pursuant to Section
            5-12 shall be determined as if such Material Accounting Change had
            not taken place and (b) the Borrower shall include, with its
            monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements a schedule,
            certified by the Borrower's chief financial officer, on which the
            effect of such Material Accounting Change to the statement with
            which provided shall be described.

      "GENERAL INTANGIBLES": Includes, without limitation, "general intangibles"
            as defined in the UCC; and also

                                       15
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

            all: rights to payment for credit extended; deposits; amounts due to
            the Borrower; credit memoranda in favor of the Borrower; warranty
            claims; tax refunds and abatements; insurance refunds and premium
            rebates; all means and vehicles of investment or hedging, including,
            without limitation, options, warrants, and futures contracts;
            records; customer lists; telephone numbers; goodwill; causes of
            action; judgments; payments under any settlement or other agreement;
            literary rights; rights to performance; royalties; license and/or
            franchise fees; rights of admission; licenses; franchises; license
            agreements, including all rights of the Borrower to enforce same;
            permits, certificates of convenience and necessity, and similar
            rights granted by any governmental authority; patents, patent
            applications, patents pending, and other intellectual property;
            internet addresses and domain names; developmental ideas and
            concepts; proprietary processes; blueprints, drawings, designs,
            diagrams, plans, reports, and charts; catalogs; manuals; technical
            data; computer software programs (including the source and object
            codes therefor), computer records, computer software, rights of
            access to computer record service bureaus, service bureau computer
            contracts, and computer data; tapes, disks, semi-conductors chips
            and printouts; trade secrets rights, copyrights, mask work rights
            and interests, and derivative works and interests; user, technical
            reference, and other manuals and materials; trade names, trademarks,
            service marks, and all goodwill relating thereto; applications for
            registration of the foregoing; and all other general intangible
            property of the Borrower in the nature of intellectual property;
            proposals; cost estimates, and reproductions on paper, or otherwise,
            of any and all concepts or ideas, and any matter related to, or
            connected with, the design, development, manufacture, sale,
            marketing, leasing, or use of any or all property produced, sold or
            leased, by the Borrower or credit extended or services performed, by
            the Borrower, whether intended for an individual customer or the
            general business of the Borrower, or used or useful in connection
            with research by the Borrower.

      "GOODS": Has the meaning given that term in the UCC.

      "GROSS MARGIN": With respect to the subject accounting period for which
            being calculated, the decimal equivalent of the following
            (determined in accordance with GAAP):

                        Sales (Minus) Cost of Goods Sold
                        --------------------------------
                                      Sales

                                       16
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

      "HAZARDOUS MATERIALS": Any (a) hazardous materials, hazardous waste,
            hazardous or toxic substances, petroleum products, which (as to any
            of the foregoing) are defined or regulated as a hazardous material
            in or under any Environmental Law and (b) oil in any physical state.

      "INDEBTEDNESS": All indebtedness and obligations of or assumed by any
            Person on account of or in respect to any of the following:

                  (a) In respect of money borrowed (including any indebtedness
                  which is non-recourse to the credit of such Person but which
                  is secured by an Encumbrance on any asset of such Person)
                  whether or not evidenced by a promissory note, bond, debenture
                  or other written obligation to pay money.

                  (b) In connection with any letter of credit or acceptance
                  transaction (including, without limitation, the face amount of
                  all letters of credit and acceptances issued for the account
                  of such Person or reimbursement on account of which such
                  Person would be obligated).

                  (c) In connection with the sale or discount of accounts
                  receivable or chattel paper of such Person other than the sale
                  of retail Accounts to credit card processors.

                  (d) On account of deposits or advances.

                  (e) As lessee under Capital Leases.

            "Indebtedness" also includes:

                        (x) Indebtedness of others secured by an Encumbrance on
                  any asset of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is
                  assumed by such Person.

                        (y) Any guaranty, endorsement, suretyship or other
                  undertaking pursuant to which that Person may be liable on
                  account of any Indebtedness of any third party, other than
                  endorsements of negotiable instruments for collection in the
                  ordinary course of business.

                        (z) The Indebtedness of a partnership or joint venture
                  in which such Person is a general partner or joint venturer to
                  the extent that the

                                       17
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

                  holder of such Indebtedness has recourse to such Person.

      "INDEMNIFIED CLAIM": Is defined in Section 14-11.

      "INDEMNIFIED PERSON": Is defined in Section 14-11.

      "INSTRUMENTS": Has the meaning given that term in the UCC.

      "INTEREST EXPENSE": For any period, the interest expense of the Borrower
            for such period, including the fees payable in accordance with the
            incurrence of Indebtedness and the portion of any payments made
            under Capital Leases allocable to interest expense, all as
            determined in accordance with GAAP.

      "INTEREST PAYMENT DATE": With reference to:

                  Each Eurodollar Loan: The last day of the Interest Period
            relating thereto; the Termination Date; and the End Date.

                  Each Base Margin Loan: the first day of each month; the
            Termination Date; and the End Date.

      "INTEREST PERIOD": (a) With respect to each Eurodollar Loan: Subject to
            Subsection (c), below, the period commencing on the date of the
            making or continuation of, or conversion to, the subject Eurodollar
            Loan and ending one, two, three or six months thereafter, as the
            Borrower may elect by notice (pursuant to Section 2-5(a)) to the
            Agent.

                  (b) With respect to each Base Margin Loan: Subject to
            Subsection (c), below, the period commencing on the date of the
            making or continuation of or conversion to such Base Margin Loan and
            ending on that date (i) as of which the subject Base Margin Loan is
            converted to a Eurodollar Loan, as the Borrower may elect by notice
            (pursuant to Section 2-5(a)) to the Agent, or (ii) on which the
            subject Base Margin Loan is paid by the Borrower.

                  (c) The setting of Interest Periods is in all instances
            subject to the following:

                        (i) Any Interest Period for a Base Margin Loan which
                  would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day shall
                  be extended to the next succeeding Business Day.

                                       18
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

                        (ii) Any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Loan which
                  would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall
                  be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, unless that
                  succeeding Business Day is in the next calendar month, in
                  which event such Interest Period shall end on the last
                  Business Day of the month during which the Interest Period
                  ends.

                        (iii) Subject to Subsection (iv), below, any Interest
                  Period applicable to a Eurodollar Loan, which Interest Period
                  begins on a day for which there is no numerically
                  corresponding day in the calendar month during which such
                  Interest Period ends, shall end on the last Business Day of
                  the month during which that Interest Period ends.

                        (iv) Any Interest Period which would otherwise end after
                        the Termination Date shall end on the Termination Date.

                        (v) The number of Interest Periods in effect at any one
                        time is subject to Section 2- 10(d) hereof.

      "INTEREST RATE REDUCTION CONDITIONS": The satisfaction of either or both
            of the following conditions:

                        (a)   (i) The Borrower's achieving EBITDA, calculated on
                        a rolling four quarters basis, of at least the following
                        amounts during the periods indicated:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  ---------------------------------------------------------
                      PERIOD                        EBITDA
                  ---------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                             <C>
                  Six Months ending January     $11,500,000.00
                  31, 1999                      (excluding Non-Recurring
                                                Charges)
                  ---------------------------------------------------------
                  Fiscal year ending January    $9,000,000.00 (excluding
                  31, 2000                      Transaction Costs)
                  ---------------------------------------------------------
                  Fiscal Year ending January    $13,000,000.00
                  31, 2001                      (excluding Transaction
                                                Costs)
                  ---------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

            and

                        (ii) During the immediately preceding fiscal quarter of
                        the Borrower, unused Availability was maintained at not
                        less than $3,000,000.00 at all times.

                                       19
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

            and/or

                  (b) The Borrower shall achieve and maintain a Fixed Charge
            Coverage Ratio greater than 1.1:1.0 as of any fiscal quarter end.

      "INVENTORY": Includes, without limitation, "inventory" as defined in the
            UCC and also all: packaging, advertising, and shipping materials
            related to any of the foregoing, and all names or marks affixed or
            to be affixed thereto for identifying or selling the same; Goods
            held for sale or lease or furnished or to be furnished under a
            contract or contracts of sale or service by the Borrower, or used or
            consumed or to be used or consumed in the Borrower's business; Goods
            of said description in transit: returned, repossessed and rejected
            Goods of said description; and all documents (whether or not
            negotiable) which represent any of the foregoing.

      "INVENTORY ADVANCE RATE": The lesser of the following percentages of
            Retail during the period indicated:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            ----------------------------------------------------------
                      PERIOD                  PERCENTAGE OF RETAIL
            ----------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                           <C>
            November through June of each
            year                              25%
            ----------------------------------------------------------
            July through October of each
            year                              28.5%
            ----------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

       INVENTORY RESERVES": Such Reserves as may be established from time to
            time by the Agent in the Agent's reasonable discretion with respect
            to the determination of the saleability, at retail, of the
            Acceptable Inventory or which reflect such other factors as affect
            the market value of the Acceptable Inventory. Without limiting the
            generality of the foregoing, Inventory Reserves may include (but are
            not limited to) reserves based on the following:

                        (i)   Obsolescence (determined based upon Inventory on
                              hand beyond a given number of days).

                        (ii)  Seasonality.

                        (iii) Shrinkage.

                        (iv)  Imbalance.

                                       20
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

                        (v)    Material change in Inventory character.

                        (vi)   Material change in Inventory composition.

                        (vii)  Material change in Inventory mix.

                        (viii) Markdowns (both permanent and point of sale).

                        (ix)   Retail markons and markups inconsistent with
                               prior period practice and performance; industry
                               standards; current business plans; or advertising
                               calendar and planned advertising events.

      "INVESTMENT PROPERTY": Has the meaning given that term in the UCC.

      "ISSUER": BankBoston, N.A. or any other issuer of any L/C, approved by the
            Agent.

      "KEY EXECUTIVES": Julian R. Geiger.

      "L/C": Any letter of credit, the issuance of which is procured by the
            Agent for the account of the Borrower and any acceptance made on
            account of such letter of credit.

      "LANDING COSTS": To the extent either (a) not included in the Stated
            Amount of an L/C, or (b) not paid by Federated Department Stores,
            Inc. under the Sourcing Agreement or by other sourcing agents under
            sourcing or purchasing arrangements: all customs, duty, freight, and
            other out-of-pocket costs and expenses which will be expended to
            "land" the Inventory.

      "LEASE": Any lease or other agreement, no matter how styled or structured,
            pursuant to which the Borrower is entitled to the use or occupancy
            of any space.

      "LENDERS": Defined in the Preamble to this Agreement

      "LIABILITIES" (in the singular, "LIABILITY"): Includes, without
            limitation, all and each of the following, whether now existing or
            hereafter arising:

                  (a) Any and all direct and indirect liabilities, debts, and
            obligations of the Borrower to the Agent or

                                       21
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

            any Lender, each of every kind, nature, and description under the
            Loan Documents.

                  (b) Each obligation to repay any loan, advance, indebtedness,
            note, obligation, overdraft, or amount now or hereafter owing by the
            Borrower to the Agent or any Lender under the Loan Documents
            (including all future advances whether or not made pursuant to a
            commitment by the Agent or any Lender), whether or not any of such
            are liquidated, unliquidated, primary, secondary, secured,
            unsecured, direct, indirect, absolute, contingent, or of any other
            type, nature, or description, or by reason of any cause of action
            which the Agent or any Lender may hold against the Borrower under
            the Loan Documents.

                  (c) All notes and other obligations of the Borrower now or
            hereafter assigned to or held by the Agent or any Lender with
            respect to the Loan Documents, each of every kind, nature, and
            description.

                  (d) All interest, fees, and charges and other amounts which
            may be charged by the Agent or any Lender to the Borrower under the
            Loan Documents and/or which may be due from the Borrower to the
            Agent or any Lender under the Loan Documents from time to time.

                  (e) All costs and expenses incurred or paid by the Agent or
            any Lender in respect of any of the Loan Documents (including,
            without limitation, Costs of Collection, attorneys' reasonable fees,
            and all court and litigation costs and expenses).

                  (f) Any and all covenants of the Borrower to or with the Agent
            or any Lender and any and all obligations of the Borrower to act or
            to refrain from acting in accordance with under Loan Documents.

                  (g) Each of the foregoing as if each reference to the " Agent
            and each Lender " therein were to each Affiliate of the Agent or any
            Lender.

      "LINE (UNUSED) FEE": Is defined in Section 2-13.

      "LOAN ACCOUNT": Is defined in Section 2-7.

      "LOAN CEILING": $45,000,000.00.

      "LOAN DOCUMENTS": This Agreement, each instrument and document executed
            and/or delivered as contemplated by Article 3, below, and each other
            instrument or document

                                       22
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

            from time to time executed and/or delivered in connection with the
            arrangements contemplated hereby or in connection with any
            transaction which arises out of any depository, letter of credit,
            interest rate protection, foreign exchange or other hedging
            agreement, or equipment leasing services provided by the Agent or
            any Lender or any Affiliate of the Agent or any Lender, as each may
            be amended from time to time. For the avoidance of doubt, Loan
            Documents does not include the Sourcing Agreement.

      "MANAGEMENT": Julian Geiger, David Geltzer, John Mills and all other
            Persons who, from time to time, acquire capital stock of the
            Borrower (or rights or options to acquire capital stock of the
            Borrower) in connection with services rendered to, or for the
            benefit of, the Borrower or its Subsidiaries.

      "MATERIAL ACCOUNTING CHANGE": Any change in GAAP applicable to accounting
            periods subsequent to the Borrower's fiscal year most recently
            completed prior to the execution of this Agreement, which change has
            a material effect on the Borrower's financial condition or operating
            results, as reflected on financial statements and reports prepared
            by or for the Borrower, when compared with such condition or results
            as if such change had not taken place or where preparation of the
            Borrower's statements and reports in compliance with such change
            results in the breach of a financial performance covenant imposed
            pursuant to Section 5-12 where such a breach would not have occurred
            if such change had not taken place or visa versa.

      "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT": A material adverse effect upon (i) the
            Borrower's business, properties, operations or financial affairs, or
            (ii) the Collateral, taken as a whole, or (iii) the ability of the
            Borrower to perform its obligations under this Agreement and the
            other Loan Documents, taken as a whole, or (iv) the validity,
            enforceability, perfection or priority of this Agreement or the
            other Loan Documents or of the rights and remedies of the Agent or
            any Lender under any Loan Document, taken as a whole.

      "MATURITY DATE": July 31, 2001.

      "NON-RECURRING CHARGES": The sum of (a) the closing fee paid to Bear,
            Stearns & Co. Inc. by the Borrower in an amount not to exceed
            $550,000.00, and (b) severance- related expenses incurred within
            twelve months after the date of consummation of the Acquisition in
            an amount not to exceed $400,000.00 in the aggregate, in

                                       23
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

            each case only if and to the extent such fee is deducted in the
            calculation of EBITDA.

      "OPERATING ACCOUNT": Is defined in Section 7-3.

      "PARTICIPANT": Is defined in Section 14-14, hereof.

      "PERMITTED ACQUISITION": The investment in, the purchase of stock of, or
            the purchase of all or a substantial part of the assets or
            properties of any Person, or the entering into of any transaction,
            merger (with the Borrower as the surviving entity), consolidation or
            exchange of securities with any Person, in which each of the
            following conditions are satisfied:

                  (a) The type of business of such Person is generally the same
            type of business (or is included in the types of business) in which
            the Borrower is engaged or a business reasonably related thereto.

                  (b) Immediately after giving effect to the transaction,
            Availability is at least $3,000,000.00.

                  (c) Prior to and immediately after giving effect to the
            transaction, no Suspension Event exists or will arise.

                  (d) The aggregate consideration (exclusive of the value of any
            common equity of the Borrower issued or delivered in connection with
            such transaction) however classified, whether cash, property or
            assumption of Indebtedness, in connection with all such transactions
            shall not exceed $5,000,000.00 in any fiscal year.

                  (e) All action required to be undertaken pursuant to Section
            4-18(f) by any Subsidiary created in connection with such
            transaction has been completed to the reasonable satisfaction of the
            Agent.

                  (f) The Borrower and the Person being so acquired, on a
            consolidated basis, shall be in compliance on a pro forma basis,
            after giving effect to such transaction, with the financial
            performance covenants contained in Section 5-12 hereof.

      "PERMITTED ENCUMBRANCES": Those Encumbrances permitted as provided in
            Section 4-6(a) hereof.

      "PERMITTED TERMINATION": The termination of this Agreement by the Borrower
            and the repayment of all Liabilities as a result of, or in
            connection with, either (a) an initial public offering of the
            capital

                                       24
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

            stock of the Borrower, or (b) the sale of all or substantially all
            of the assets of the Borrower to, or merger or consolidation of the
            Borrower with, a Person which is not an Affiliate or other Related
            Entity in a bona fide arms length transaction, or (c) the sale of at
            least eighty percent (80%) of the capital stock of the Borrower to a
            Person which is not an Affiliate or other Related Entity in a bona
            fide arms length transaction, or (d) the replacement of Lenders then
            holding two-thirds (2/3) of the Commitments pursuant to the
            provisions of Sections 2-24 hereof.

      "PERSON": Any natural person, and any corporation, limited liability
            company, trust, partnership, joint venture, or other enterprise or
            entity.

      "PREFERRED STOCK": All capital stock of the Borrower now or hereafter
            having any rights preferential to those of the common equity of the
            Borrower, including without limitation, the 6% Series A Exchangeable
            Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share to be issued to
            the Seller and the Series B Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value
            $,01 per share to be issued to MSS Acquisition Corp. II and any
            Subordinated Notes into which such preferred shares are convertible.

      "PREFERRED STOCK DOCUMENTATION": The Preferred Stock and the Amended and
            Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Borrower dated July __,
            1998.

      "PRICING CHANGE": The reduction of the Base Margin or the Eurodollar
            Margin upon satisfaction of the Interest Rate Reduction Conditions
            (i) by an amount equal to 25 basis points in which both conditions
            set forth in clause (a) of the definition of Interest Rate Reduction
            Conditions are satisfied and/or (ii) by an amount equal to 25 basis
            points upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in clause (b)
            of such definition. Any Pricing Change as a result of satisfaction
            of the conditions set forth in clause (a) of the definition of
            Interest Rate Reduction Conditions shall take effect quarterly upon
            delivery of the financial statements required to be delivered
            pursuant to Section 5-7 hereof, commencing with the financial
            statements for the Borrower's fiscal quarter ending January 31,
            1999. Any Pricing Change as a result of satisfaction of the
            conditions set forth in clause (b) of the definition of Interest
            Rate Reduction Conditions shall take effect quarterly upon delivery
            of the financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to
            Section 5-7 hereof, commencing with the financial statements for

                                       25
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

            the Borrower's fiscal quarter ending July 31, 1999. The maximum
            amount of the Pricing Change for the Base Margin shall be 25 basis
            points (even if both the conditions in clauses (i) and (ii) above
            are satisfied) and for the Eurodollar Margin shall be 50 basis
            points. If a Pricing Change is effectuated by virtue of the
            Borrower's satisfaction of either of the Interest Rate Reduction
            Conditions, such Pricing Change shall remain in effect only for as
            long as the Interest Rate Reduction Conditions continue to be
            satisfied or until the occurrence of an Event of Default; upon the
            Borrower's failure to satisfy such Interest Rate Reduction
            Conditions or upon the occurrence, and during the continuance, of an
            Event of Default, the applicable Pricing Change shall be rescinded
            and be of no further effect until the Interest Rate Reduction
            Conditions are again satisfied or the Event of Default is no longer
            continuing.

      "PROCEEDS": Includes, without limitation, "Proceeds" as defined in the UCC
            (defined below), and each type of property described in Section 8-1
            hereof.

      "RECEIPTS": All cash, cash equivalents, checks, and credit card slips and
            receipts as arise out of the sale of the Collateral.

      "RECEIVABLES COLLATERAL": That portion of the Collateral which consists of
            the Borrower's Accounts, Accounts Receivable, General Intangibles
            for the payment of money, Chattel Paper, Instruments, Investment
            Property, letters of credit for the benefit of the Borrower, and
            bankers' acceptances held by the Borrower, and any rights to
            payment.

      "RELATED ENTITY": (a) Any corporation, limited liability company, trust,
            partnership, joint venture, or other enterprise which: is a parent,
            brother-sister, Subsidiary, or Affiliate, of the Borrower; could
            have such enterprise's tax returns or financial statements
            consolidated with the Borrower's; could be a member of the same
            controlled group of corporations (within the meaning of Section
            1563(a)(1), (2) and (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
            amended from time to time) of which the Borrower is a member;
            controls or is controlled by the Borrower or by any Affiliate of the
            Borrower.

                  (b) Any Affiliate.

      "REPLACEMENT LENDER": Is defined in Section 2-24 hereof.

                                       26
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

      "REQUIREMENT OF LAW": As to any Person:

                  (a)(i) All statutes, rules, regulations, orders, or other
            requirements having the force of law and (ii) all court orders and
            injunctions, arbitrator's decisions, and/or similar rulings, in each
            instance ((i) and (ii)) of or by any federal, state, municipal, and
            other governmental authority, or court, tribunal, governmental
            panel, or other governmental body which has jurisdiction over such
            Person, or any property of such Person.

                  (b) That Person's charter, certificate of incorporation,
            articles of organization, and/or other organizational documents, as
            applicable; and

                  (c) that Person's by-laws and/or other instruments which deal
            with corporate or similar governance, as applicable.

      "RESERVE PERCENTAGE": The decimal equivalent of that rate applicable to a
            Lender under regulations issued from time to time by the Board of
            Governors of the Federal Reserve System for determining the maximum
            reserve requirement of that Lender with respect to "Eurocurrency
            liabilities" as defined in such regulations. The Reserve Percentage
            applicable to a particular Eurodollar Loan shall be based upon that
            in effect during the subject Interest Period, with changes in the
            Reserve Percentage which take effect during such Interest Period to
            take effect (and to consequently change any interest rate determined
            with reference to the Reserve Percentage) if and when such change is
            applicable to such loans.

      "RESERVES": All (if any) Availability Reserves, A/R Reserves, and
            Inventory Reserves.

      "RETAIL": The lesser of (a) the lowest ticketed retail price offered to
            the public, or (b) the Cost of Inventory divided by the Cost Factor,
            except that for purposes of the determination of Availability, the
            Cost of Inventory shall be the Cost of Acceptable Inventory.

      "REVOLVING CREDIT": Is defined in Section 2-1.

      "REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE": Is defined in Section 2-8.

      "REVOLVING CREDIT LOAN": A term of convenience which refers to so much of
            the unpaid principal balance of the Loan Account as bears the same
            rate of interest for the same Interest Period.

                                       27
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

      "SECURED L/CS": L/Cs which have been secured in the manner provided
            pursuant to Section 2-19 hereof.

      "SELLER": Federated Specialty Stores, Inc., an Ohio corporation.

      "SOURCING AGREEMENT": The Sourcing Agreement dated July 31, 1998 by and
            among Federated Department Stores, Inc., Specialty Acquisition Corp.
            and the Borrower, as amended and in effect from time to time.

      "SPECIAL ANNUAL CONDITIONS": The satisfaction of each of the following
            conditions:

                  (i) No Event of Default exists or would arise as a result of
            the subject payment.

                  (ii) Availability immediately after giving effect to such
            payments shall be at least $3,000,000.00.

                  (iii) Such payments may not be made until five (5) Business
            Days after the Agent's receipt of the annual financial statements
            required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5-8 hereof, beginning
            with the fiscal year ending January 31, 1999.

      "STATED AMOUNT": The maximum amount for which an L/C may be honored.

      "SUBORDINATED INDEBTEDNESS": Indebtedness the payment of principal and
            interest of which is expressly subordinated in right of payment to
            the Liabilities, in such form and on such terms (which may include
            the payment of current interest until the occurrence, and during the
            continuance, of a Suspension Event) as are reasonably acceptable to
            the Agent.

      "SUBSIDIARY": As to any Person, any corporation, association, partnership,
            limited liability company, joint venture or other business entity of
            which at least fifty percent (50%) or more of the ordinary voting
            power (or equivalent interests) for the election of a majority of
            the board of directors (or other equivalent governing body) of such
            entity is held or controlled by such Person, or by one or more
            Subsidiaries of such Person, or by such Person and one or more
            Subsidiaries of such Person; or which is otherwise controlled by
            such Person, or by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or by
            such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person through the
            exercise of voting power or otherwise.

                                       28
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

      "SUSPENSION EVENT": Any occurrence, circumstance, or state of facts which
            (a) is an Event of Default, which is continuing; or (b) would become
            an Event of Default if any requisite notice were given and/or any
            requisite period of time were to run and such occurrence,
            circumstance, or state of facts were not absolutely cured within any
            applicable grace period.

      "TERMINATION DATE": The earliest of (a) the Maturity Date; or (b) the
            occurrence of any event described in Section 10-12 hereof; or (c)
            date set by notice by the Agent to the Borrower, which notice sets
            the Termination Date on account of the occurrence of any Event of
            Default other than as described in Section 10-12 hereof.

      "TRANSACTION COSTS": Reasonable, non-recurring costs and expenses incurred
            by the Borrower in connection with the consummation of a Permitted
            Acquisition, including, without limitation, brokerage fees,
            attorneys' fees, and investment banking fees.

      "TRUST DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS": Depository accounts established by the Borrower,
            the proceeds of which are to be utilized solely for the payment of
            sales taxes, ad valorem taxes, withholding taxes and other similar
            taxes, and other depository accounts established by the Borrower for
            which the Borrower is a trustee or other fiduciary for any other
            Persons.

      "UCC": The Uniform Commercial Code as presently in effect in Massachusetts
            (Mass. Gen. Laws, Ch. 106).

      "UNREIMBURSED L/C OBLIGATIONS": Is defined in Section 2- 1(b)(i)(D).

      "YEAR 2000 PROBLEM": The risk that a computer application, software or
            embedded microchip may not be able to recognize certain dates or
            properly perform date sensitive functions involving dates prior to
            and after December 31, 1999 and that such failure will have a
            Material Adverse Effect.

ARTICLE 2 - THE REVOLVING CREDIT:

      2-1.  Establishment of  Revolving Credit.

            (a) The Lenders hereby establish a revolving line of credit (the
"REVOLVING CREDIT") in the Borrower's favor pursuant to which each Lender,
subject to, and in accordance with, this Agreement, acting through the Agent,
shall make loans and advances and otherwise provide financial accommodations to
and for the account of the Borrower as provided herein, in each

                                       29
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

instance equal to that Lender's Commitment Percentage of Availability, up to the
maximum amount of that Lender's Dollar Commitment. The amount available for
borrowing under the Revolving Credit shall be determined by the Agent by
reference to Availability, as determined by the Agent from time to time.

            (b) As used herein, the following terms have the following meanings:

                  (i) "AVAILABILITY" refers at any time to the result of the
      following:

                        (A)   Borrowing Base.

                        Minus

                        (B)   The then unpaid principal balance of the Loan
                              Account.

                        Minus

                        (C)   The then Stated Amount of all L/C's.

                        Minus

                        (D)   The then unpaid reimbursement obligations in
                              respect of L/Cs which have been drawn, but which
                              have not been repaid either by an advance under
                              the Revolving Credit in accordance with the
                              provisions of Section 2-17(e) hereof or otherwise
                              (the "Unreimbursed L/C Obligations")

                  (ii)  "BORROWING BASE" refers at any time to the lesser of
                        2-1(b)(ii)(A) or 2-1(b)(ii)(B), where:

                        (A) is the Loan Ceiling.

                        (B) is the result of the following (calculated without
            duplication or double counting):

                                (I)   The A/R Advance Rate of the face
                                      amount of Acceptable Accounts (net of
                                      A/R Reserves)

                                Plus

                                       30
<PAGE>
                                                            Exhibit 10.4

                                (II)  The Inventory Advance Rate of
                                      Acceptable Inventory (net of Inventory
                                      Reserves).

                                Plus

                                (III) The lesser of (x) the Blank Stock
                                      Advance Rate of Acceptable Blank Stock
                                      Inventory (net of Inventory Reserves),
                                      or (y) $800,000.00.

                                 Minus

                                (IV)  The then aggregate of the Availability
                                      Reserves.

                  The Reserves in effect as of the date of this Agreement are
                  set forth in Section 2-2 hereof.

                  The Borrowing Base shall be subject to adjustment based upon
                  the results of the Inventory liquidation analysis and
                  commercial finance examinations obtained by the Agent pursuant
                  to the provisions of Sections 5-10(e) and (d) hereof.

            (c) Availability shall be based upon Borrowing Base Certificates
furnished as provided in Section 5-4 hereof.

            (d) The proceeds of borrowings under the Revolving Credit shall be
used solely to finance up to $8,000,000.00 of the liabilities of Speciality
Acquisition Corp. to the Seller and assumed by the Borrower as a result of the
Merger and thereafter for working capital and general corporate purposes of the
Borrower and for its Capital Expenditures, all solely to the extent permitted by
this Agreement.

      2-2.  Initial Reserves, Changes to Reserves.

            (a) At the execution of this Agreement, the only Reserves are as
follows:

                  (i) Shrinkage (an Inventory Reserve): An amount equal to 2% of
      the total net retail sales of the Borrower made after the date of the
      immediately preceding physical count of such Borrower's Inventory. The
      Reserve for Shrinkage shall be adjusted daily based upon the immediately
      preceding days' sales and shall be reset after the results of each
      physical count of such Borrower's Inventory have been furnished to the
      Agent and posted to the Borrower's stock ledger.

                                       31
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

                  (ii) Customer Credits (Merchandise Credits, Layaway Deposits
      and Gift Certificates) (an Inventory Reserve): An amount equal to fifty
      percent (50%) of the outstanding amount of such items. The Borrower agrees
      to accurately post such items to the stock ledger daily, absent which the
      Agent may establish a Reserve hereunder in such amount as the Agent in its
      reasonable discretion determines.

            (iii) A Landlord Lien Reserve (an Availability Reserve): An amount
      equal to three (3) months rent for the Borrower's locations in
      Pennsylvania, Washington, Virginia and such other states as the Agent
      shall reasonably determine a Landlord could obtain a lien having priority
      over the rights of the Agent; provided that such Reserve, as to any
      particular location, shall be eliminated upon the Agent's receipt of a
      landlord's waiver reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the
      Agent in its discretion.

            (iv) A Landing Cost Reserve (an Availability Reserve): An amount
      equal to Ten percent (10%) of the Cost of Acceptable In-Transit Inventory,
      but only with respect to Inventory for which the Landing Costs are not
      paid or to be paid by Federated Department Stores, Inc. under the Sourcing
      Agreement or by other sourcing agents under sourcing or purchasing
      arrangements.

            (b) The Agent shall not establish any Reserve, other than the
Reserves referenced in Section 2-2(a) above, except in the exercise of the
Agent's reasonable discretion and then only upon not less than seven (7)
Business Days prior notice to the Borrower in each instance. Except as provided
2-2(a), above, a change to a then existing Reserve may be made only with not
less than seven (7) Business Days prior notice to the Borrower.

      2-3. Advances in Excess of Borrowing Base. No Lender has any obligation to
make any loan or advance, or otherwise to provide any credit for the benefit of
the Borrower such that the balance of the Loan Account exceeds the Borrowing
Base. However, the making of loans, advances, and credits and the providing of
financial accommodations in excess of the Borrowing Base is for the benefit of
the Borrower and does not affect the obligations of the Borrower hereunder; such
loans, advances, credits, and financial accommodations constitute Liabilities.
The making of any such loans, advances, and credits and the providing of
financial accommodations, on any one occasion such that the Borrowing Base is
exceeded shall not obligate any Lender to make any such loans, credits, or
advances or to provide any financial accommodation on any other occasion nor to
permit such loans, credits, or advances to remain outstanding.

                                       32
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

      2-4. Risks of Value of Collateral. The Agent's reference to a given asset
in connection with the making of loans, credits, and advances and the providing
of financial accommodations under the Revolving Credit and/or the monitoring of
compliance with the provisions hereof shall not be deemed a determination by the
Agent or any Lender relative to the actual value of the asset in question. All
risks concerning the collectability of the Borrower's Accounts and the
saleability of the Borrower's Inventory are and remain upon the Borrower. All
Collateral secures the prompt, punctual, and faithful performance of the
Liabilities whether or not relied upon by the Agent or by any Lender in
connection with the making of loans, credits, and advances and the providing of
financial accommodations under the Revolving Credit.

      2-5.  Loan Requests.

            (a) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, a loan or advance
under the Revolving Credit duly and timely requested by the Borrower shall be
made pursuant hereto, provided that:

                  (i) Borrowing Base will not be exceeded; and

                  (ii)  The Revolving Credit has not been suspended
      as provided in Section 2-5(h).

            (b) Requests for loans and advances under the Revolving Credit may
be requested by the Borrower in such manner as may from time to time be
reasonably acceptable to the Agent.

            (c) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Borrower may
request a Revolving Credit Loan and elect an interest rate and Interest Period
to be applicable to that Revolving Credit Loan by giving the Agent notice no
later than the following:

                  (i) If such Revolving Credit Loan is or is to be converted to
      a Base Margin Loan: By 3:00 PM on the Business Day on which the subject
      Revolving Credit Loan is to be made or is to be so converted. Base Margin
      Loans requested by the Borrower, other than those resulting from the
      conversion of a Eurodollar Loan, shall not be less than $10,000.00 (or the
      then Availability if less than $10,000.00).

                  (ii) If such Revolving Credit Loan is, or is to be continued
      as, or converted to, a Eurodollar Loan: By 3:00PM Two (2) Eurodollar
      Business Days before the end of the then applicable Interest Period.
      Eurodollar Loans and conversions to Eurodollar Loans shall each be not
      less than $100,000.00 and in increments of $100,000.00 in excess of such
      minimum.

                                       33
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

                  (iii) Any Eurodollar Loan which matures while a Suspension
      Event is extant shall be converted, at the option of the Agent to a Base
      Margin Loan notwithstanding any notice from the Borrower that such Loan is
      to be continued as a Eurodollar Loan.

            (d) Any request for a Revolving Credit Loan or for the conversion of
a Revolving Credit Loan which is made after the applicable deadline therefor, as
set forth above, shall be deemed to have been made at the opening of business on
the then next Business Day or Eurodollar Business Day, as applicable. Each
request for a Revolving Credit Loan or for the conversion of a Revolving Credit
Loan shall be made in such manner as may from time to time be reasonably
acceptable to the Agent

            (e) The Borrower may request that the Agent cause the issuance of
L/C's for the account of the Borrower as provided in Section 2-17.

            (f) The Agent may rely on any request for a loan or advance, or
other financial accommodation under the Revolving Credit which the Agent, in
good faith, reasonably believes to have been made by a Person duly authorized to
act on behalf of the Borrower and may decline to make any such requested loan or
advance, or issuance, or to provide any such financial accommodation pending the
Agent's being furnished with such documentation concerning that Person's
authority to act as may be reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.

            (g) A request by the Borrower for loan or advance, or other
financial accommodation under the Revolving Credit shall be irrevocable and
shall constitute certification by the Borrower that as of the date of such
request, each of the following is true and correct:

                  (i) There has been no material adverse change in the
      Borrower's financial condition from the most recent financial information
      furnished to the Agent or any Lender pursuant to this Agreement.

                  (ii) All or a portion of any loan or advance so requested will
      be set aside by the Borrower to cover all of the Borrower's obligations
      for sales tax on account of sales since the then most recent borrowing
      pursuant to the Revolving Credit.

                  (iii) Each representation which is made herein or in any of
      the Loan Documents (defined below) is then true and complete in all
      material respects as of and as if made on the date of such request (other
      than those which are as of a specific date, in which case such
      representation was true and complete in all material respects as of such
      date).

                                       34
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

                  (iv)  No Suspension Event is then extant.

            (h)   Upon the occurrence, and during the continuance,
from time to time of any Suspension Event:

                  (i) The Agent may suspend the Revolving Credit immediately.

                  (ii) Neither the Agent nor any Lender shall be obligated,
      during such suspension, to make any loans or advance, or to provide any
      financial accommodation hereunder or to seek the issuance of any L/C.

                  (iii) The Agent may suspend the right of the Borrower to
      request any Eurodollar Loan or to convert any Base Margin Loan to a
      Eurodollar Loan.

      2-6.  Making of Loans Under Revolving Credit.

            (a) A loan or advance under the Revolving Credit shall be made by
the transfer of the proceeds of such loan or advance to the Operating Account or
as otherwise instructed by the Borrower.

            (b) A loan or advance shall be deemed to have been made under the
Revolving Credit (and the Borrower shall be indebted to the Agent for the amount
thereof immediately) at the following:

                  (i) The Agent's initiation of the transfer of the proceeds of
      such loan or advance in accordance with the Borrower's instructions (if
      such loan or advance is of funds requested by the Borrower).

                  (ii) The charging of the amount of such loan to the Loan
      Account (in all other circumstances).

            (c) There shall not be any recourse to or liability of the Agent or
any Lender, on account of:

                  (i) Any delay in the making of any loan or advance requested
      under the Revolving Credit unless due to the Agent's or Lender's gross
      negligence or willful misconduct.

                  (ii) Any delay in the proceeds of any such loan or advance
      constituting collected funds.

                  (iii) Any delay in the receipt, and/or any loss, of funds
      which constitute a loan or advance under the Revolving Credit, the wire
      transfer of which was properly

                                       35
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

      initiated by the Agent in accordance with wire instructions provided to
      the Agent by the Borrower.

      2-7.  The Loan Account.

            (a) An account ("LOAN ACCOUNT") shall be opened on the books of the
Agent. A record may be kept in the Loan Account of all loans made under or
pursuant to this Agreement and of all payments thereon.

            (b) The Agent may also keep a record (either in the Loan Account or
elsewhere, as the Agent may from time to time elect) of all interest, fees,
service charges, costs, expenses, and other debits owed the Lender on account of
the Liabilities and of all credits against such amounts so owed.

            (c) All credits against the Liabilities shall be conditional upon
final payment to the Agent for the Account of each Lender of the items giving
rise to such credits. The amount of any item credited against the Liabilities
which is charged back against Agent or any Lender for any reason or is not so
paid shall be a Liability and shall be added to the Loan Account, whether or not
the item so charged back or not so paid is returned.

            (d) Except as otherwise provided herein, all fees, service charges,
costs, and expenses for which the Borrower is obligated hereunder are payable on
demand.

            (e) The Agent, without the request of the Borrower, may advance
under the Revolving Credit any interest, fee, service charge, or other payment
to which the Agent or any Lender is entitled from the Borrower pursuant hereto
and may charge the same to the Loan Account notwithstanding that such amount so
advanced may result in Borrowing Base's being exceeded. Such action on the part
of the Agent shall not constitute a waiver of the Agent's rights and Borrower's
obligations under Section 2- 9(b). Any amount which is added to the principal
balance of the Loan Account as provided in this Section 2-7(e) shall bear
interest, subject to Section 2-10(f), at the Base Margin Rate.

            (f) Absent manifest error, any statement rendered by the Agent or
any Lender to the Borrower concerning the Liabilities shall be considered
correct and accepted by the Borrower and shall be conclusively binding upon the
Borrower unless the Borrower provides the Agent with written objection thereto
within sixty (60) days from the receipt of such statement, which written
objection shall indicate, with particularity, the reason for such objection. The
Loan Account and the Agent's books and records concerning the loan arrangement
contemplated herein and the Liabilities shall be prima facie evidence and proof
of the items described therein.

                                       36
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

      2-8. The Revolving Credit Notes. The obligation to repay loans and
advances under the Revolving Credit, with interest as provided herein, shall be
evidenced by Notes (each, a "REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE") in the form of EXHIBIT 2-8,
annexed hereto, executed by the Borrower, one payable to each Lender. Neither
the original nor a copy of any Revolving Credit Note shall be required, however,
to establish or prove any Liability. In the event that any Revolving Credit Note
is ever lost, mutilated, or destroyed, upon receipt of an indemnification with
respect to the lost Revolving Credit Note from the applicable Lender in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and the Agent, the Borrower
shall execute a replacement thereof and deliver such replacement to the Agent.

      2-9.  Payment of The Loan Account.

            (a) The Borrower may repay all or any portion of the principal
balance of the Loan Account from time to time until the Termination Date. Such
payments shall be applied first to Base Margin Loans and only then to Eurodollar
Loans.

            (b) The Borrower, without notice or demand from the Agent or any
Lender, shall pay the Agent that amount, from time to time, which is necessary
so that the unpaid balance of the Loan Account does not exceed the Borrowing
Base. Such payments shall be applied first to Base Margin Loans and only then to
Eurodollar Loans.

            (c) Subject to the provisions of Section 7-5(b)(v) hereof, the Agent
shall endeavor to cause those applications of payments (if any), pursuant to
Sections 2-9(a) and 2-9(b) against Eurodollar Loans then outstanding in such
manner as results in the least cost to the Borrower, but shall not have any
affirmative obligation to do so nor liability on account of the Agent's failure
to have done so. In no event shall action or inaction taken by the Agent excuse
the Borrower from any indemnification obligation under Section 2-9(e).

            (d) The Borrower shall repay the then entire unpaid balance of the
Loan Account and all other Liabilities on the Termination Date.

            (e) The Borrower shall indemnify each Lender and hold each Lender
harmless from and against any loss, cost or expense (excluding loss of
anticipated profits) which such Lender may sustain or incur (including, without
limitation, by virtue of acceleration after the occurrence of any Event of
Default) as a consequence of the following:

            (i) Default by the Borrower in payment of the principal amount of or
      any interest on any Eurodollar Loan as and when due and payable, including
      any such loss or

                                       37
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

      expense arising from interest or fees payable by such Lender to lenders of
      funds obtained by it in order to maintain its Eurodollar Loans.

            (ii) Default by the Borrower in making a borrowing or conversion
      after the Borrower has given (or is deemed to have given) a request for a
      Revolving Credit Loan or a request to convert a Revolving Credit Loan from
      one applicable interest rate to another.

            (iii) The making of any payment on a Eurodollar Loan or the making
      of any conversion of any such Loan to a Base Margin Loan on a day that is
      not the last day of the applicable Interest Period with respect thereto,
      including interest or fees payable by such Lender to lenders of funds
      obtained by it in order to maintain any such Loans as "breakage fees"
      (so-called).

      2-10. Interest Rates.

      (a) Each Revolving Credit Loan shall bear interest at the Base Margin Rate
unless timely notice is given (as provided in Section 2-5(a)) that the subject
Revolving Credit Loan (or a portion thereof) is, or is to be converted to, a
Eurodollar Loan.

            (b) Each Revolving Credit Loan which consists of a Eurodollar Loan
shall bear interest at the applicable Eurodollar Rate.

            (c) Subject to the provisions hereof, the Borrower, by notice to the
Agent, may cause all or a part of the unpaid principal balance of the Loan
Account to bear interest at the Base Margin Rate or the Eurodollar Rate as
specified from time to time by the Borrower.

            (d) The Borrower shall not select, renew, or convert any interest
rate for a Revolving Credit Loan such that, in addition to interest at the Base
Margin Rate, there are more than Six (6) Eurodollar Rates applicable to the
Revolving Credit Loans at any one time.

            (e) The Borrower shall pay accrued and unpaid interest on each
Revolving Credit Loan in arrears as follows:

                  (i) On the applicable Interest Payment Date for that Revolving
      Credit Loan.

                  (ii) On the Termination Date and on the End Date.

                  (iii) Following the occurrence, and during the continuance, of
      any Event of Default, with such frequency as may be determined by the
      Agent.

                                       38
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

            (f) Following the occurrence, and during the continuance, of any
Default Interest Event (and whether or not the Agent exercises the Agent's
rights on account thereof), all Revolving Credit Loans shall bear interest, at
the option of the Agent at rate which is the aggregate of the interest rate then
in effect plus Two Percent (2%) per annum.

      2-11. Commitment Fee.

      As compensation for the commitments of those Persons who are Lenders on
the date of execution of this Agreement to make loans and advances to the
Borrower and as compensation for such Lenders' respective maintenance of
sufficient funds available for such purpose, such Lenders have earned a
COMMITMENT FEE (so referred to herein) at the times and in the amounts as set
forth the Fee Letter.

      2-12. Agent's Fee.

      In addition to any other fee or expense paid by the Borrower on account of
the Revolving Credit, the Borrower shall pay the Agent an AGENT'S FEE (so
referred to herein) at the times and in the amounts as set forth in the Fee
Letter.

      2-13. Line (Unused) Fee. In addition to any other fee paid by the Borrower
on account of the Revolving Credit, the Borrower shall pay the Agent, for the
benefit of the Lenders, a LINE (UNUSED) FEE (so referred to herein) in arrears,
on the first day of each month (and on the Termination Date). The Line (Unused)
Fee shall be equal to 0.375% per annum of the difference during the month just
ended (or relevant period with respect to the payment being made on the
Termination Date) between the Loan Ceiling and the average unused portion of the
Revolving Credit (including, for purposes hereof, the average Stated Amount of
Outstanding L/Cs during such period) during such period.

      2-14. Early Termination Fee.

            In the event that the Termination Date occurs, for any reason other
than a Permitted Termination, prior to the Maturity Date, the Borrower shall pay
the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, the EARLY TERMINATION FEE (so
referred to herein) determined and payable as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            ---------------------------------------------------------
                    TERMINATION DATE                       FEE
            ---------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                   <C>
            Closing Date through July 31, 1999        $450,000.00
            ---------------------------------------------------------
            August 1, 1999 through July 31, 2000      $225,000.00
            ---------------------------------------------------------
            After August 1, 2000                      $         0
            ---------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                                       39
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

      2-15. Concerning Fees.

            The Borrower shall not be entitled to any credit, rebate or
repayment of the Commitment Fee, Agent's Fee, Line (Unused) Fee, Early
Termination Fee, or other fee previously earned by the Agent or any Lender
pursuant to this Agreement notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement or
suspension or termination of the Agent's and any Lender's respective obligation
to make loans and advances hereunder.

      2-16. Agent's and Lenders' Discretion.

            Each reference in the Loan Documents to the exercise of discretion
or the like by the Agent or any Lender shall be to that Person's exercise of its
reasonable judgement, in good faith, based upon that Person's consideration of
any such factor as the Agent or that Lender, reasonably deems appropriate and,
with respect to the calculation of the Borrowing Base and Reserves, in
accordance with the Agent's general eligibility and reserve requirements for
Revolving Credit Loans generally and consistent with the methodology used by the
Agent in determining the Borrowing Base on the effective date of this Agreement.

      2-17. Procedures For Issuance of L/C's.

      (a) The Borrower may request that the Agent cause the issuance of L/C's
for the account of the Borrower. Each such request shall be in such manner as
may from time to time be acceptable to the Agent.

            (b) The Agent will endeavor to cause the issuance of any L/C so
requested by the Borrower, provided that, at the time that the request is made,
the Revolving Credit has not been suspended as provided in Section 2-5(h) and if
so issued:

                  (i) The aggregate Stated Amount of all L/C's then outstanding,
      does not exceed Fifteen Million Dollars and No Cents ($15,000,000.00).

                  (ii) The expiry of the L/C is not later than the Maturity
      Date.

                  (iii) Availability would not be exceeded.

                  (iv) The sum of (A) the then unpaid principal balance of the
      Loan Account, plus (B) the then Stated Amount of all L/Cs, plus (C) the
      then Unreimbursed L/C Obligations, minus (D) the then Stated Amount of all
      Secured L/Cs shall not exceed the Borrowing Base.

                                       40
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

            (c) The Borrower shall execute such documentation to apply for and
support the issuance of an L/C as may be reasonably required by the Issuer.

            (d) There shall not be any recourse to, nor liability of, the Agent
or any Lender on account of

                  (i) Any delay by an Issuer to issue an L/C;

                  (ii) Any action or inaction of an Issuer on account of or in
      respect to, any L/C.

            (e) The Borrower shall reimburse the Issuer for the amount of any
drawing under an L/C on the same Business Day of such drawing. The Agent,
without the request of the Borrower, may advance under the Revolving Credit (and
charge to the Loan Account) the amount of any honoring of any L/C and other
amount for which the Borrower, the Issuer, or the Lenders become obligated on
account of, or in respect to, any L/C. Such advance shall be made whether or not
a Suspension Event is then extant or such advance would result in Borrowing
Base's being exceeded. Such action shall not constitute a waiver of the Agent's
rights under Section 2-9(b) hereof.

      2-18. Fees For L/C's.

      (a) The Borrower shall pay to the Agent a fee, on account of L/C's, the
issuance of which had been procured by the Agent, monthly in arrears, and on the
Termination Date and on the End Date, equal to 1.50% per annum of the weighted
average Stated Amount of all L/C's outstanding during the period in respect of
which such fee is being paid.

            (b) In addition to the fee to be paid as provided in Subsection
2-18(a), above, the Borrower shall pay to the Agent (or to the Issuer, if so
requested by Agent), on demand, all issuance, processing, negotiation,
amendment, and administrative fees and other amounts charged by the Issuer on
account of, or in respect to, any L/C.

      2-19. Cash Collateralization of L/Cs(a) With respect to L/Cs with a
scheduled expiry after the Maturity Date, thirty (30) days prior to the Maturity
Date, and

(b) with respect to all L/Cs, upon the Agent's request after the occurrence, and
during the continuance, of any Event of Default hereunder,

the Borrower shall deposit in an account with the Agent, for the benefit of the
Lenders, an amount in cash equal to 103% of the then Stated Amount of all
outstanding L/Cs. Such deposit shall be held by the Agent as collateral for the
payment and

                                       41
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

performance of the Liabilities. The Agent shall have the exclusive dominion and
control over such account. Such deposits shall not bear interest. Monies in such
account shall be automatically applied by the Agent to reimburse the Issuer for
any honoring of any L/Cs, together with any other amounts owed to the Issuer,
and after all L/Cs have been so reimbursed or otherwise expired, any remaining
balance shall be applied in reduction of the Liabilities. In lieu of depositing
such cash with the Agent the Borrower may furnish the Agent, for the benefit of
the Lenders, with a so-called "back-to-back" letter of credit in form and
substance and issued by a bank reasonably satisfactory to the Agent in its sole
and absolute discretion, in an amount equal to 103 percent of the then Stated
Amount of all outstanding L/Cs. Drawings under such "back-to-back" letters of
credit shall be applied by the Agent to the Liabilities in the manner set forth
above with respect to the cash collateral account. If no Event of Default then
exists, the cash collateral deposited with the Agent and/or the amount of the
"back-to-back" letters of credit may be reduced by an amount equal to any
reduction from time to time in the Stated Amount of all outstanding L/Cs (other
than on account of drawings thereunder).

      2-20. Concerning L/C's.

            (a) None of the Issuer, the Issuer's correspondents, or any
advising, negotiating, or paying bank with respect to any L/C shall be
responsible in any way for:

                  (i) The performance by any beneficiary under any L/C of that
      beneficiary's obligations to the Borrower.

                  (ii) The form, sufficiency, correctness, genuineness,
      authority of any person signing; falsification; or the legal effect of;
      any documents called for under any L/C if (with respect to the foregoing)
      such documents on their face appear to be in order, except to the extent
      that such Issuer, Issuer's correspondents, or advising, negotiating, or
      paying bank has actual knowledge of any of the foregoing.

            (b) The Issuer may honor, as complying with the terms of any L/C and
of any drawing thereunder, any drafts or other documents otherwise in order, but
signed or issued by an administrator, executor, conservator, trustee in
bankruptcy, debtor in possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors,
liquidator, receiver, or other legal representative of the party authorized
under such L/C to draw or issue such drafts or other documents.

            (c) Unless otherwise agreed to, in the particular instance, the
Borrower hereby authorizes any Issuer to:

                                       42
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

                  (i)   Select an advising bank, if any.

                  (ii)  Select a paying bank, if any.

                  (iii) Select a negotiating bank.

            (d) All directions, correspondence, and funds transfers relating to
any L/C are at the risk of the Borrower. The Issuer shall have discharged the
Issuer's obligations under any L/C which, or the drawing under which, includes
payment instructions, by the initiation of the method of payment called for in,
and in accordance with, such instructions (or by any other commercially
reasonable and comparable method). None of the Agent, any Lender, nor the Issuer
shall have any responsibility for any inaccuracy, interruption, error, or delay
in transmission or delivery by post, telegraph or cable, or for any inaccuracy
of translation, except for their gross negligence or willful misconduct.

            (e) The Agent's, each Lender's, and the Issuer's rights, powers,
privileges and immunities specified in or arising under this Agreement are in
addition to any heretofore or at any time hereafter otherwise created or
arising, whether by statute or rule of law or contract.

            (f) Except to the extent otherwise expressly provided hereunder or
agreed to in writing by the Issuer and the Borrower, the L/C will be governed by
the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber
of Commerce, Publication No. 500, and any subsequent revisions thereof.

            (g) If any change in any law, executive order or regulation, or any
directive of any administrative or governmental authority (whether or not having
the force of law), or in the interpretation thereof by any court or
administrative or governmental authority charged with the administration
thereof, shall either:

                  (i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special
      deposit or similar requirements against letters of credit heretofore or
      hereafter issued by any Issuer or with respect to which the Agent, any or
      any Issuer has an obligation to lend to fund drawings under any L/C; or

                  (ii) impose on any Issuer any other condition or requirements
      relating to any such letters of credit;

and the result of any event referred to in Section 2-20(g)(i) or 2-20(g)(ii),
above, shall be to increase the cost to any Issuer of issuing or maintaining any
L/C (which increase in cost shall be the result of such Issuer's reasonable
allocation among that Issuer's letter of credit customers of the aggregate of
such cost

                                       43
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

increases resulting from such events), then, upon demand by the Agent and
delivery by the Agent to the Borrower of a certificate of an officer of the
subject Issuer describing such change in law, executive order, regulation,
directive, or interpretation thereof, its effect on such Issuer, and the basis
for determining such increased costs and their allocation, the Borrower shall
immediately pay to the Agent, from time to time as specified by the Agent, such
amounts as shall be sufficient to compensate such Issuer for such increased
cost; provided that the Borrower shall not be obligated to make payment of such
amounts which arise from transactions which occurred more than ninety (90)
Business Days prior to the Agent's furnishing notice hereunder. Any Issuer's
determination of costs incurred under Section 2-20(g)(i) or 2-20(g)(ii), above,
and the allocation, if any, of such costs among the Borrower and other letter of
credit customers of such Issuer, if done in good faith and made on an equitable
basis and in accordance with such officer's certificate, shall be conclusive and
binding on the Borrower, absent manifest error.

            (h) The obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement with
respect to L/C's are absolute, unconditional, and irrevocable and shall be
performed strictly in accordance with the terms hereof under all circumstances,
whatsoever including, without limitation, the following:

                  (i) Any lack of validity or enforceability or restriction,
      restraint, or stay in the enforcement of this Agreement, any L/C, or any
      other agreement or instrument relating thereto.

                  (ii) Any amendment or waiver of, or consent to the departure
      from, any L/C.

                  (iii) The existence of any claim, set-off, defense, or other
      right which the Borrower may have at any time against the beneficiary of
      any L/C.

      2-21. Changed Circumstances.

            (a) The Agent may give the Borrower notice of the occurrence of the
following:

                  (i) The Agent shall have determined in good faith (which
      determination shall be final and conclusive) on any day on which the rate
      for a Eurodollar Loan would otherwise be set, that adequate and fair means
      do not exist for ascertaining such rate.

                  (ii) The Agent shall have determined in good faith (which
      determination shall be final and conclusive) that:

                                       44
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

                        (A) The continuation of or conversion of any Revolving
            Credit Loan to a Eurodollar Loan has been made impracticable or
            unlawful by the occurrence of a contingency that materially and
            adversely affects the applicable market or compliance by the Agent
            or any Lender in good faith with any applicable law or governmental
            regulation, guideline or order or interpretation or change thereof
            by any governmental authority charged with the interpretation or
            administration thereof or with any request or directive of any such
            governmental authority (whether or not having the force of law).

                        (B) The indices on which the interest rates for
            Eurodollar Loans are based shall no longer represent the effective
            cost to the Agent or any Lender for U.S. dollar deposits in the
            interbank market for deposits in which it regularly participates.

            (b) In the event that the Agent gives the Borrower notice of an
occurrence described in Section 2-21(a), then, until the Agent notifies the
Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer apply:

                  (i) The obligation of the Agent and of each Lender to make
      Eurodollar Loans of the type affected by such changed circumstances or to
      permit the Borrower to select the affected interest rate as otherwise
      applicable to any Revolving Credit Loans shall be suspended.

                  (ii) Any notice which the Borrower had given the Agent with
      respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the time for action with respect to which
      has not occurred prior to the Agent's having given notice pursuant to
      Section 2-21(a), shall be deemed to be a request for a Base Margin Loan.

      (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Lender agrees to use its
reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory
restrictions and so long as such efforts would not be disadvantageous to it, in
its reasonable discretion, in any legal, economic or regulatory manner) to
designate a different lending office if the making of such designation would
allow the Lender or its lending office to continue to make Eurodollar Loans.

      2-22. Increased Costs. If there is adopted after the date hereof any
requirement of law, or if there is any new interpretation or application of any
law after the date hereof by any court or by any governmental or other authority
or entity charged with the administration thereof, whether or not having the
force of law, which:

                                       45
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

            (a) subjects any Lender to any taxes or changes the basis of
      taxation, or increases any existing taxes, on payments of principal,
      interest or other amounts payable by the Borrower to the Agent or any
      Lender under this Agreement (except for taxes on the Agent or any Lender's
      overall net income or capital imposed by the jurisdiction in which the
      Agent or that Lender's principal or lending offices are located or in
      which the Agent or that Lender is organized);

            (b) imposes, modifies or deems applicable any reserve, cash margin,
      special deposit or similar requirements against assets held by, or
      deposits in or for the account of or loans by or any other acquisition of
      funds by the relevant funding office of any Lender;

            (c) imposes on any Lender any other condition with respect to any
      Loan Document; or

            (d) imposes on any Lender a requirement to maintain or allocate
      capital in relation to the Liabilities;

and the result of any of the foregoing, in the such Lender's reasonable opinion,
is to increase the cost to that Lender of making or maintaining any loan,
advance or financial accommodation or to reduce the income receivable by such
Lender in respect of any loan, advance or financial accommodation by an amount
which the such Lender deems to be material, then upon the Agent's giving written
notice thereof upon its receipt of written notice from the subject Lender, from
time to time, to the Borrower (such notice to set out in reasonable detail the
facts giving rise to and a summary calculation of such increased cost or reduced
income), the Borrower shall forthwith pay to the Agent, for the benefit of the
subject Lender, upon receipt of such notice, that amount which shall compensate
the subject Lender for such additional cost or reduction in income, provided
that the Borrower shall not be obligated to make payment of such amounts which
arise from transactions which occurred more than ninety (90) Business Days prior
to the Agent's furnishing notice hereunder.

      Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Lender agrees to use its reasonable
efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory
restrictions and so long as such efforts would not be disadvantageous to it, in
its reasonable discretion, in any legal, economic or regulatory manner) to
designate a different lending office if the making of such designation would
allow the Lender or its lending office to avoid the imposition of such increased
costs.

                                       46
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

      2-23. Lenders' Commitments.

            (a) The obligations of each Lender are several and not joint. No
Lender shall have any obligation to make any loan or advance under the Revolving
Credit in excess of the lesser of

                        (i)   that Lender's Commitment Percentage of
      the subject loan or advance or of Availability; or

                        (ii)  that Lender's Dollar Commitment,

            (b) No Lender shall have any liability to the Borrower on account of
the failure of any other Lender to provide any loan or advance under the
Revolving Credit nor any obligation to make up any shortfall which may be
created by such failure.

            (c) The Dollar Commitments, Commitment Percentages, and identities
of the Lenders (but not the overall Commitment) may be changed, from time to
time by the reallocation or assignment of Dollar Commitments and Commitment
Percentages amongst the Lenders or with other Persons who determine to become
"Lenders", provided, however, that

                  (i) Unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing
      (in which event, no consent of the Borrower is required) any assignment to
      a Person not then a Lender shall be subject to the prior consent of the
      Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld), which consent will be deemed
      given unless the Borrower provides the Agent with written objection, not
      more than five (5) Business Days after the Agent shall have given the
      Borrower written notice of a proposed assignment).

                  (ii) Any such assignment or reallocation shall be on a
      pro-rata basis such that each reallocated or assigned Dollar Commitment to
      any Person remains the same percentage of the overall Commitment (in terms
      of dollars) as the reallocated Commitment Percentage is to such Person.

                  (iii) No such assignment shall be in an amount less than Ten
      Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00), or, if less, the total Dollar Commitment
      of such assigning Lender.

            (d) Upon written notice given the Borrower from time to time by the
Agent, of any assignment or allocation referenced in Section 2-23(c):

                  (i) The Borrower shall execute replacement one or more
      Revolving Credit Notes to reflect such changed Dollar Commitments,
      Commitment Percentages, and identities and shall deliver such replacement
      Revolving Credit Notes to the Agent (which promptly thereafter shall
      deliver to the

                                       47
<PAGE>
                                                            Exhibit 10.4

      Borrower the Revolving Credit Notes so replaced) provided however, in the
      event that a Revolving Credit Note is to be exchanged following its
      acceleration or the entry of an order for relief under the Bankruptcy Code
      with respect to the Borrower, the Agent, in lieu of causing the Borrower
      to execute one or more new Revolving Credit Notes, may issue the Agent's
      Certificate confirming the resulting Commitments and Commitment
      Percentages.

                  (ii) Such change shall be effective from the effective date
      specified in such written notice and any Person added as a Lender shall
      have all rights and privileges of a Lender hereunder thereafter as if such
      Person had been a signatory to this Agreement and any other Loan Document
      to which a Lender is a signatory and any person removed as a Lender shall
      be relieved of any obligations or responsibilities of a Lender hereunder
      thereafter.

                  (iii) The Borrower shall maintain a register identifying the
      Lenders from time time.

            (e) The Borrower recognizes that the Agent's exercise of any
discretion accorded to the Agent herein and of its rights, remedies, powers,
privileges, and discretions with respect to the Borrower is subject to a certain
Agency Agreement amongst the Agent and the Lenders. The provisions of the Agency
Agreement relating to voting rights of the Lenders and Participants and the
replacement of the Agent shall be subject to the approval of the Borrower, which
approval shall not be unreasonably delayed or withheld. The Borrower
acknowledges that the Borrower's approval of the voting rights shall be deemed
furnished if the voting rights provisions described in EXHIBIT 2-23 hereto are
incorporated in the Agency Agreement.

      2-24 Replacement of Certain Lenders. If a Lender, other than the Agent, as
Lender (an "AFFECTED LENDER"), shall have requested compensation from the
Borrower under Sections 2-20(g) or 2-22, or if the Agent shall have delivered a
notice pursuant to Section 2-21 claiming that any Lender is unable to extend
Eurodollar Loans to the Borrower for reasons not generally applicable to the
other Lenders, then, in any such case, so long as no Event of Default exists:

            (a) The Borrower may make written demand on such Affected Lender
(with a copy to the Agent) no later than thirty (30) days after such request for
the Affected Lender to assign, without recourse, and such Affected Lender shall
so assign in accordance with Section 2-23 within ten (10) Business Days after
the date of such demand, to one or more financial institutions (which
institutions are reasonably acceptable to the Agent) which the Borrower shall
have designated for such purpose (a

                                       48
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

"REPLACEMENT LENDER"), all of such Affected Lender's rights and obligations
under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including its Dollar
Commitment, all loans owing to it, all of its participation interests in
outstanding L/C's, and its obligation to participate in additional L/C's
hereunder) in accordance with Section 2-23. The Borrower shall be responsible
for the payment of all reasonable costs and expenses, including reasonable
attorney's fees and expenses, incurred by the Agent and the successor Lender in
connection with all matters relative to such assignment.

            (b) The Affected Lender shall receive, concurrent with such
assignment, in cash, all amounts due and owing to such Affected Lender hereunder
or under any other Loan Document, including, without limitation, the aggregate
outstanding principal amount of the loans owed to such Lender, together with
accrued interest thereon and accrued fees through the date of such assignment
from the Replacement Lender, and all amounts payable under Sections 2-20(g) or
2-22 with respect to such Affected Lender.

            (c) Upon such Affected Lender's replacement, such Affected Lender
shall cease to be a party hereto and shall be released of all obligations
hereunder.

ARTICLE 3 - CONDITIONS PRECEDENT:

      As a condition to the effectiveness of this Agreement, the establishment
of the Revolving Credit, and the making of the first loan under the Revolving
Credit, each of the documents respectively described in Sections 3-1 through and
including 3-4, (each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent)
shall have been delivered to the Agent, and the conditions respectively
described in Sections 3-5 through and including 3-15, shall have been satisfied:

      3-1.  Corporate Due Diligence.

            (a) A Certificate of corporate good standing issued by the Secretary
of State of Delaware.

            (b) Certificates of due qualification, in good standing, issued by
the Secretary(ies) of State of each State in which the nature of the Borrower's
business conducted or assets owned would reasonably be expected to require such
qualification.

            (c) A Certificate of the Borrower's Secretary of the due adoption,
continued effectiveness, and setting forth the texts of, each corporate
resolution adopted in connection with the establishment of the loan arrangement
contemplated by the Loan Documents and attesting to the true signatures of each
Person authorized as a signatory to any of the Loan Documents.

                                       49
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

      3-2. Opinion. An opinion of counsel to the Borrower in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.

      3-3. Additional Documents. Such additional instruments and documents as
the Agent or its counsel reasonably may require or request.

      3-4. Officers' Certificates. Certificates executed by the President and
the Chief Financial Officer of the Borrower and stating that the representations
and warranties made by the Borrower to the Agent and the Lenders in the Loan
Documents are true and complete in all material respects as of the date of such
Certificate, and that no event has occurred which is or which, solely with the
giving of notice or passage of time (or both) would be an Event of Default.

      3-5. Representations and Warranties. Each of the representations made by
or on behalf of the Borrower in this Agreement or in any of the other Loan
Documents or in any other report, statement, document, or paper provided by or
on behalf of the Borrower shall be true and complete in all material respects as
of the date as of which such representation or warranty was made.

      3-6.  Minimum Excess Availability at Time of Initial Advance. The
Borrowing Base, immediately after giving effect to the first funding under the
Revolving Credit; any charges to the Loan Account made in connection with the
establishment of the credit facility contemplated hereby; and L/C's to be issued
at, or immediately subsequent to, such establishment, is not less than
$9,500,000.00.

      3-7. All Fees and Expenses Paid. All fees due at or immediately after the
first funding under the Revolving Credit and all costs and expenses reasonably
incurred by the Agent in connection with the establishment of the credit
facility contemplated hereby (including the reasonable fees and expenses of
counsel to the Agent) shall have been paid (to the extent then invoiced).

      3-8. Acquisition and Anticipated Merger Consummated. (a) The Acquisition
shall have been consummated and Specialty Acquisition Corp. shall have received
(a) at least $6,997,500.00 from MSS Acquisition Corp. II, a wholly owned
subsidiary of The Bear Stearns Companies Inc., $6,250,000.00 of which is on
account of the sale of Specialty Acquisition Corp.'s Series B Redeemable
Preferred Stock and $747,500.00 of which is on account of the sale of Specialty
Acquisition Corp.'s common stock, and (b) at least $6,000,000.00 from Federated
Speciality Stores Inc. on account of the sale of Specialty Acquisition Corp.'s
Series A Exchangeable Redeemable Preferred Stock in satisfaction of a portion of
the purchase price of the Acquisition, all on terms

                                       50
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

and evidenced by documents and agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.

      (b) The Anticipated Merger shall have been consummated (or shall be
consummated contemporaneously herewith).

      3-9. Borrower's Assets. The Agent shall have received a copy of the
results of the Borrower's most recent physical inventory and such results shall
be reasonably satisfactory to the Agent. In addition, the Agent shall be
reasonably satisfied that the inventory of the Borrower is located at such
places or is in transit to the Borrower and is in the amounts and of the quality
and value previously represented by the Borrower to the Agent and the Agent
shall have received such reports, material and other information concerning the
inventory and the Borrower's suppliers as shall reasonably satisfy the Agent in
its sole discretion.

      3-10. Lien Search. The Agent shall have received results of searches or
other evidence satisfactory to the Agent (in each case dated as of a date
reasonably satisfactory to the Agent) indicating the absence of liens on the
assets of the Borrower, except for Permitted Encumbrances and liens for which
termination statements and releases reasonably satisfactory to the Agent are
being tendered concurrently with the establishment of the Revolving Credit.

      3-11. Perfection of Collateral. The Agent shall have filed all such
financing statements and given all such notices as may be necessary for the
Agent to perfect its security interest in such of the Collateral as to which the
Agent determines to perfect its security interests and to assure its first
priority status (subject only to Permitted Encumbrances).

      3-12. Insurance. The Agent shall be reasonably satisfied with the
Borrower's insurance arrangements and shall have received all documentation
requested in connection with such insurance including, documentation naming the
Agent as "loss payee" under each policy (except with respect to the key man life
insurance policies, the proceeds of which shall be utilized solely for funding
stock repurchases from deceased Management.

      3-13. Sourcing Agreement. The Borrower shall have executed the Sourcing
Agreement with Federated Department Stores, Inc. on terms and conditions
reasonably acceptable to Agent, and said Federated Department Stores, Inc. and
each of the Borrower's customs brokers shall have entered into such agreements
with the Agent as the Agent may reasonably require.

      3-14. No Suspension Event. No Suspension Event shall then exist.

                                       51
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

      3-15. No Adverse Change. No event shall have occurred or failed to occur,
which occurrence or failure reasonably would be expected to have a Materially
Adverse Effect.

No document shall be deemed delivered to the Agent or any Lender until received
and accepted by the Agent at its head offices in Boston, Massachusetts. Under no
circumstances will this Agreement take effect until executed and accepted by the
Agent at said head office.

ARTICLE 4 - GENERAL REPRESENTATIONS, COVENANTS AND WARRANTIES:

      To induce each Lender to establish the loan arrangement contemplated
herein and to make loans and advances and to provide financial accommodations
under the Revolving Credit (each of which loans shall be deemed to have been
made in reliance thereupon) the Borrower, in addition to all other
representations, warranties, and covenants made by the Borrower in any other
Loan Document, makes those representations, warranties, and covenants included
in this Agreement.

      4-1. Payment and Performance of Liabilities. The Borrower shall pay each
Liability when due (or when demanded if payable on demand) and shall promptly,
punctually, and faithfully perform each other Liability.

      4-2. Due Organization - Corporate Authorization - No Conflicts.

            (a) The Borrower presently is and shall hereafter remain in good
standing as a Delaware corporation and is and shall hereafter remain duly
qualified and in good standing in every other State in which, by reason of the
nature or location of the Borrower's assets or operation of the Borrower's
business, such qualification is necessary, except where the failure to so
qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

            (b) Each Related Entity as of the date hereof is listed on EXHIBIT
4-2, annexed hereto. Each Subsidiary is and shall hereafter remain in good
standing in the State in which incorporated and is and shall hereafter remain
duly qualified in which other State in which, by reason of that entity's assets
or the operation of such entity's business, such qualification may be necessary,
except where the failure to so qualify would not reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect. The Borrower shall provide the Agent with prior
written notice of any entity's becoming or ceasing to be a Related Entity.

            (c) The Borrower shall not change its State of incorporation nor its
taxpayer identification number.

                                       52
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

            (d) The Borrower has all requisite corporate power and authority to
execute and deliver all Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party and has
and will hereafter retain all requisite corporate power to perform all
Liabilities.

            (e) The execution and delivery by the Borrower of each Loan Document
to which it is a party; the Borrower's consummation of the transactions
contemplated by such Loan Documents (including, without limitation, the creation
of security interests by the Borrower as contemplated hereby); the Borrower's
performance under those of the Loan Documents to which it is a party; the
borrowings hereunder; and the use of the proceeds thereof:

                  (i) Have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
      action.

                  (ii) Do not, and will not, contravene in any material respect
      any provision of any Requirement of Law or obligation of the Borrower.

                  (iii) Will not result in the creation or imposition of, or the
      obligation to create or impose, any Encumbrance upon any assets of the
      Borrower pursuant to any Requirement of Law or obligation, except pursuant
      to the Loan Documents.

            (f) The Loan Documents have been duly executed and delivered by
Borrower and are the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower,
enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with their respective terms,
except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general application relating to
or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally and except as the
remedy of specific performance or injunctive relief is subject to the discretion
of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

      4-3.  Trade Names.

            (a) EXHIBIT 4-3, annexed hereto, is a listing of:

            (i) All names under which the Borrower conducted its business within
      the past five (5) years.

            (ii) All entities and/or persons with whom the Borrower consolidated
      or merged within the past five (5) years, or from whom the Borrower,
      within the past five (5) years, acquired in a single transaction or in a
      series of related transactions substantially all of such entity's or
      person's assets.

                                       53
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

            (b) The Borrower will not change its name or conduct its business
under any name not listed on EXHIBIT 4-3 except (i) upon not less than
twenty-one (21) days prior written notice (with reasonable particularity) to the
Agent and (ii) in compliance with all other provisions of this Agreement.

      4-4.  Intellectual Property.

            (a) Based upon a diligent inquiry undertaken by the Borrower, it
appears to the Borrower that the computer applications, software, embedded
microchips and other computer processing capabilities which the Borrower
presently employs do not have a Year 2000 Problem. The Borrower will not employ
any computer application hereafter unless the Borrower shall have first made a
diligent inquiry to assure that no Year 2000 Problem will arise on account of
the use of such application.

            (b) The Borrower owns and possesses, or has the right to use (and
will hereafter own, possess, or have such right to use) all patents, industrial
designs, trademarks, trade names, trade styles, brand names, service marks,
logos, copyrights, trade secrets, know-how, confidential information, and other
intellectual or proprietary property of any third Person necessary for the
Borrower's conduct of the Borrower's business.

            (c) The conduct by the Borrower of the Borrower's business does not
presently infringe in any manner which could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect(nor will the Borrower conduct its business in the future
so as to infringe in any manner which could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect)the patents, industrial designs, trademarks, trade
names, trade styles, brand names, service marks, logos, copyrights, trade
secrets, know-how, confidential information, or other intellectual or
proprietary property of any third Person.

      4-5.  Locations.

            (a) The Collateral, and the books, records, and papers of Borrower
pertaining thereto, are kept and maintained solely at, or in transit to and
from, the Borrower's chief executive offices at

                  (i) 11 Penn Plaza, New York, New York 10001; and

                  (ii) those locations which are listed on EXHIBIT 4-5, annexed
      hereto, which EXHIBIT includes, with respect to each such location, the
      name and address of the landlord on the Lease which covers such location
      (or an indication that the Borrower owns the subject location) and of all
      service bureaus with which any such records are maintained.

                                       54
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

            (b) The Borrower shall not remove any of the Collateral from said
chief executive office or those locations listed on EXHIBIT 4-5 except:

                  (i) to accomplish sales of Inventory in the ordinary course of
      business; or

                  (ii) to move Inventory, Equipment and other assets from one
      such location to another such location; or

                  (iii) to utilize such of the Collateral as is removed from
      such locations in the ordinary course of business (such as motor
      vehicles).

                  (iv) to accomplish other dispositions permitted pursuant
      to Section 4-12(d) hereof.

                  (v) otherwise upon thirty (30) days prior written notice to
      the Agent.

            (c) Except (i) with respect to Inventory delivered to a processor
for finishing, (ii) with respect to Inventory in transit, and (iii) as otherwise
disclosed pursuant to, or permitted by, this Section 4-5, no tangible personal
property of the Borrower is in the care or custody of any third party or stored
or entrusted with a bailee or other third party and none shall hereafter be
placed under such care, custody, storage, or entrustment.

      4-6.  Title to Assets.

            (a) The Borrower is, and shall hereafter remain, the owner of, or
holder of subsisting license or leasehold rights in and to, the Collateral free
and clear of all Encumbrances with the exceptions of the following (the
"PERMITTED ENCUMBRANCES"):

                  (i)   Encumbrances in favor of the Agent.

                  (ii) Those Encumbrances (if any) listed on EXHIBIT 4-6,
      annexed hereto.

                  (iii) Purchase money security interests in Equipment to secure
      Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereby.

                  (iv) Encumbrances for taxes, governmental assessments or
      charges in the nature of taxes not yet due or which are being contested in
      good faith by appropriate proceedings as to which adequate reserves are
      maintained on the books of the Borrower in accordance with GAAP.

                  (v)   Encumbrances in respect of property or assets
      of the Borrower imposed by law, which were incurred in the

                                       55
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

      ordinary course of business, such as carriers', warehousemen's, customs
      broker's, materialmen's, repairmen's, and mechanics' liens and other
      similar Encumbrances, in each case in respect of obligations not overdue
      for a period of more than thirty (30) days or which are being contested in
      good faith by appropriate proceedings.

                  (vi) Utility deposits and pledges or deposits in connection
      with worker's compensation, unemployment insurance and other social
      security legislation.

                  (vii) Encumbrances arising under Capital Leases.

                  (viii) Encumbrances resulting from the sale, transfer and
      assignment of retail Accounts to credit card processors.

                  (ix) Deposits to secure the performance of bids, tenders,
      trade contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory
      obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other
      obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business,
      all to the extent such obligations are otherwise permitted hereunder.

                  (x) Encumbrances on Equipment of a Person which becomes a
      Subsidiary after the date hereof pursuant to, and Equipment acquired in
      connection with, a Permitted Acquisition, provided that (A) such
      Encumbrances existed at the time such Person became a Subsidiary or such
      Equipment was acquired and were not created in anticipation of the
      acquisition, and (B) any such Encumbrance does not cover any other assets
      of such Person after it became a Subsidiary or any other assets of the
      Borrower after such Equipment was acquired, and (C) such Encumbrance does
      not secure any Indebtedness other than Indebtedness existing immediately
      prior to the time such Person became a Subsidiary or the time of such
      acquisition.

                  (xi) Encumbrances consisting of the right of setoff of a
      customary nature or bankers' liens on amounts on deposit incurred in the
      ordinary course of business.

                  (xii) Encumbrances on goods in favor of customs and revenue
      authorities which secure the payment of customs duties in connection with
      the importation of such goods, which obligations are not overdue.

                  (xiii) Encumbrances constituting precautionary filings by
      lessors and bailees with respect to assets which are leased or entrusted
      to the Borrower but in which assets the Borrower has mere possessory
      rights.

                                       56
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

                  (xiv) Encumbrances arising from judgments which do not result
      in an Event of Default under Section 10-10 hereof.

            (b) The Borrower does not and shall not have possession of any
property on consignment to the Borrower.

            (c) The Borrower shall not acquire or obtain the right to use any
Equipment, the acquisition or right to use of which Equipment is otherwise
permitted by this Agreement, in which Equipment any third party has an interest,
except for:

                  (i) Equipment which is merely incidental to the conduct of the
      Borrower's business.

                  (ii) Equipment, the acquisition or right to use of which has
      been consented to by the Agent, which consent may be conditioned upon the
      Agent's receipt of such agreement with the third party which has an
      interest in such Equipment as is satisfactory to the Agent.

                  (iii) Equipment, the acquisition of which is permitted
      pursuant to Section 4-7(c) hereof or which is the subject of an operating
      lease (but not Capital Leases).

      4-7. Indebtedness. The Borrower does not and shall not hereafter have any
Indebtedness with the exceptions of:

            (a) Any Indebtedness to the Lenders .

            (b) The Indebtedness (if any) listed on EXHIBIT 4-7, annexed hereto.

            (c) Capital Lease obligations and purchase money Indebtedness not to
      exceed the aggregate principal amount outstanding in excess of
      $5,000,000.00, and extensions, renewals and refinancings thereof on terms
      no less favorable in any material respect to the Borrower than the
      Indebtedness or Capital Lease being refinanced.

            (d) Subordinated Indebtedness.

            (e) Other Indebtedness not to exceed $5,000,000.00 outstanding at
      any time.

      4-8.  Insurance Policies.

            (a) EXHIBIT 4-8, annexed hereto, is a schedule of all material
insurance policies owned by the Borrower or under which the Borrower is the
named insured as of the date hereof (excluding key man life insurance policies,
the proceeds of which shall be utilized to fund Management stock repurchases as

                                       57
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

permitted hereunder). Each of such policies is in full force and effect. Neither
the issuer (to the Borrower's knowledge) of any such policy nor the Borrower is
in default or violation of any such policy.

            (b) The Borrower shall have and maintain at all times insurance
covering such risks, in such amounts, containing such terms, in such form, for
such periods, and written by such companies as may be reasonably satisfactory to
the Agent . The coverage reflected on EXHIBIT 4-8 presently satisfies the
foregoing requirements, it being recognized by the Borrower, however, that such
requirements may change hereafter to reflect changing circumstances. All
insurance carried by the Borrower shall provide for a minimum of Sixty (60)
days' written notice of cancellation to the Agent and all such insurance which
covers the Collateral shall include an endorsement in favor of the Agent, as
loss payee and additional insured, which endorsement shall provide that the
insurance, to the extent of the Agent's interest therein, shall not be impaired
or invalidated, in whole or in part, by reason of any act or neglect of the
Borrower or by the failure of the Borrower to comply with any warranty or
condition of the policy. In the event of the failure by the Borrower to maintain
insurance as required herein, the Agent , at its option, may obtain such
insurance, provided, however, the Agent's obtaining of such insurance shall not
constitute a cure or waiver of any Event of Default occasioned by the Borrower's
failure to have maintained such insurance. The Borrower shall furnish to the
Agent certificates or other evidence satisfactory to the Agent regarding
compliance by the Borrower with the foregoing insurance provisions.

            (c) After the occurrence, and during the continuance, of an Event of
Default, the Borrower shall advise the Agent of each claim made by the Borrower
under any policy of insurance which covers the Collateral and will permit the
Agent, at the Agent's option in each instance, to the exclusion of the Borrower,
to conduct the adjustment of each such claim. The Borrower hereby appoints the
Agent as the Borrower's attorney in fact, exercisable after the occurrence, and
during the continuance, of an Event of Default, to obtain, adjust, settle, and
cancel any insurance described in this section and to endorse in favor of the
Agent any and all drafts and other instruments with respect to such insurance.
This appointment, being coupled with an interest, is irrevocable until this
Agreement is terminated by a written instrument executed by a duly authorized
officer of the Agent. The Agent shall not be liable on account of any exercise
pursuant to said power except for any exercise in actual willful misconduct and
bad faith. The Agent may apply any proceeds of such insurance against the
Liabilities, whether or not such have matured, in such order of application as
the Agent may determine.

                                       58
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

      4-9. Licenses. Each material license, distributorship, franchise, and
similar agreement issued to, or to which the Borrower is a party is in full
force and effect. To the Borrower's knowledge, no party to any such license or
agreement is in default or violation thereof. The Borrower has not received any
notice or threat of cancellation of any such license or agreement.

      4-10. Leases. EXHIBIT 4-10, annexed hereto, is a schedule of all presently
effective Capital Leases. EXHIBIT 4-5 includes a list of all other presently
effective Leases. Each of such Leases and Capital Leases presently is in full
force and effect. As of the date hereof, no party to any such Lease or Capital
Lease is in default or violation in any material respect of any such Lease or
Capital Lease (for which the Borrower has not received an indemnification from
the Seller) and the Borrower has not received any notice or threat of
cancellation of any such Lease or Capital Lease. The Borrower hereby authorizes
the Agent at any time and from time to time after the occurrence, and during the
continuance, of an Event of Default to contact any of the Borrower's landlords
in order to confirm the Borrower's continued compliance with the terms and
conditions of the Lease(s) between the Borrower and that landlord and to discuss
such issues, concerning the Borrower's occupancy under such Lease(s), as the
Agent may determine.

      4-11. Requirements of Law. The Borrower is in compliance with, and shall
hereafter comply with and use its assets in compliance with, all Requirements of
Law, except to the extent that such non-compliance would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Borrower has not received any
notice of any material violation of any Requirement of Law, which violation has
not been cured or otherwise remedied.

      4-12. Maintain Properties. The Borrower shall:

            (a) Keep the Collateral in good order and repair (ordinary
reasonable wear and tear and insured casualty excepted).

            (b) Not suffer or cause the waste or destruction of any material
part of the Collateral.

            (c) Not use any of the Collateral in violation of any policy of
insurance thereon.

            (d) Not sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of any of the Collateral,
other than the following:

                  (i) The sale of Inventory in compliance with this Agreement.

                                       59
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

                  (ii) as long as no Event of Default exists or would arise as a
      result thereof, the disposal of Equipment which is obsolete, worn out, or
      damaged beyond repair, which Equipment is replaced to the extent necessary
      to preserve or improve the operating efficiency of the Borrower.

                  (iii) The surrender, disposition, or expiration of Collateral
      (such as trademarks and copyrights) no longer used or useful for the
      conduct of the Borrower's business in the ordinary course.

                  (iv) The turning over to the Agent of all Receipts as provided
      herein.

                  (v) The transfer , sale and assignment of retail Accounts to
      credit card processors.

      4-13. Pay Taxes.

            (a) The Borrower has been a member of the affiliated group (within
the meaning of Section 1504 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) of
which Federated Department Stores, Inc. is the common parent (within the meaning
of Section 1504 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) and which has
included the Seller and the Borrower since 1995.

            (b) Except as disclosed on EXHIBIT 4-13, (i) all tax returns
(federal, state, local or foreign) that relate to or include the Borrower and
that are due on or before the date hereof, taking into account any extensions
for the filing thereof, have been or will be prepared and timely filed in
accordance in all material respects with applicable Requirements of Law, (ii)
all such tax returns are or will be correct and complete insofar as they relate
to the Borrower, and (iii) all taxes (federal, state, local or foreign) for
which the Borrower may be liable that are due (whether or not shown on any tax
return) have been or will be paid in full.

            (c) The Borrower has, and hereafter shall: pay, as they become due
and payable, all taxes and unemployment contributions and other charges of any
kind or nature levied, assessed or claimed against the Borrower or the
Collateral by any person or entity whose claim could result in an Encumbrance
upon any asset of the Borrower or by any governmental authority, except to the
extent such taxes are being contested by the Borrower in good faith, and
adequate reserves are being maintained therefor on the Borrower's books in
accordance with GAAP; properly exercise any trust responsibilities imposed upon
the Borrower by reason of withholding from employees' pay or by reason of the
Borrower's receipt of sales tax or other funds for the account of any third
party; timely make all contributions and other payments as may be required
pursuant to any Employee

                                       60
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

Benefit Plan now or hereafter established by the Borrower; and timely file all
tax and other returns and other reports with each governmental authority to whom
the Borrower is obligated to so file, in each case, taking into account any
applicable extension periods.

            (d) At its option, after the occurrence, and during the continuance,
of a Suspension Event, the Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, pay any
taxes, unemployment contributions, and any and all other charges levied or
assessed upon the Borrower or the Collateral by any person or entity or
governmental authority, and make any contributions or other payments on account
of the Borrower's Employee Benefit Plan as the Agent, in the Agent's discretion,
may deem necessary or desirable, to protect, maintain, preserve, collect, or
realize upon any or all of the Collateral or the value thereof or any right or
remedy pertaining thereto, provided, however, the Agent's making of any such
payment shall not constitute a cure or waiver of any Event of Default occasioned
by the Borrower's failure to have made such payment.

      4-14. No Margin Stock. The Borrower is not engaged in the business of
extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock
(within the meaning of Regulations U,T, and X of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System of the United States). No part of the proceeds of any
borrowing hereunder will be used at any time to purchase or carry any such
margin stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or
carrying any such margin stock.

      4-15. ERISA. From and after the date hereof, neither the Borrower nor any
ERISA Affiliate shall, in any manner which could reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect:

            (a) Fail to comply in all material respects with any Employee
Benefit Plan.

            (b) Fail timely to file all reports and filings required by ERISA to
be filed by the Borrower.

            (c) Engage in any non-exempt "prohibited transactions" (as described
in ERISA).

            (d) Engage in, or commit, any act such that a tax or penalty could
be imposed upon the Borrower on account thereof pursuant to ERISA.

            (e) Accumulate any material funding deficiency within the meaning of
Section 302 of ERISA.

                                       61
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

            (f) Terminate any Employee Benefit Plan such that a lien could be
asserted against any assets of the Borrower on account thereof pursuant to
ERISA.

            (g) Be a member of, contribute to, or have any obligation under any
Employee Benefit Plan which is a multiemployer plan within the meaning of
Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

      4-16. Hazardous Materials.

            (a) Other than matters that could not reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect, the Borrower has never:

                  (i) Been legally responsible for any release or threat of
      release of any Hazardous Material.

                  (ii) Received notification of any release or threat of release
      of any Hazardous Material from any site or vessel occupied or operated by
      the Borrower and/or of the incurrence of any expense or loss in connection
      with the assessment, containment, or removal of any release or threat of
      release of any Hazardous Material from any such site or vessel.

            (b) The Borrower shall:

                  (i) Dispose of any Hazardous Material only in compliance with
      all Environmental Laws, except for dispositions which could not reasonably
      be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (ii) Not store on any site or vessel occupied or operated by
      the Borrower and not transport or arrange for the transport of any
      Hazardous Material, except if such storage or transport is in the ordinary
      course of the Borrower's business and is in compliance with all
      Environmental Laws or could not reasonably be expected to have a Material
      Adverse Effect.

            (c) The Borrower shall provide the Agent with written notice upon
the Borrower's obtaining knowledge of any incurrence of any expense or loss by
any governmental authority or other Person in connection with the assessment,
containment, or removal of any Hazardous Material, for which expense or loss the
Borrower may be liable, other than expense or loss that could not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

      4-17. Litigation. Except as described in EXHIBIT 4-17, annexed hereto,
there is not presently pending or threatened by or against the Borrower any
suit, action, proceeding, or

                                       62
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

investigation which, if determined adversely to the Borrower, would have a
material adverse effect upon the Borrower's financial condition or ability to
conduct its business as such business is presently conducted or is contemplated
to be conducted in the foreseeable future.

      4-18. Dividends or Investments. The Borrower shall not:

            (a) Pay any cash dividend or make any other distribution in respect
of any class of the Borrower's capital stock, except for the following:

            (i) Quarterly dividends on account of the Series A Exchangeable
            Redeemable Preferred Stock owned by Federated Specialty Stores,
            Inc., provided such dividends are paid only for the immediately
            preceding fiscal quarter (no payments of arrearages being permitted)
            and shall not exceed six percent (6%) per annum of the liquidation
            value of such stock, all as provided in the Preferred Stock
            Documentation;

            (ii) Quarterly dividends on account of the Series B Redeemable
            Preferred Stock owned by MSS Acquisition Corp. II, provided such
            dividends are paid only for the immediately preceding fiscal quarter
            (no payments of arrearages being permitted) and shall not exceed
            twelve and one half percent (12.50%) per annum of the liquidation
            value of such stock, all as provided in the Preferred Stock
            Documentation;

            in each case only as long as the Dividend Conditions
            have been satisfied.

            (iii) If the Dividend Conditions have not been satisfied but the
            Special Annual Conditions have been satisfied, an annual dividend
            payment on account of each of Series A and Series B of the Preferred
            Stock in an amount not to exceed the lesser of (A) the difference
            between (x) the aggregate annualized dividends which would have been
            payable pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) hereof on account of such
            Preferred Stock had the Dividend Conditions been satisfied (except
            with respect to the fiscal year ending January 31, 1999 only, the
            aggregate dividends which have accrued after the effectiveness of
            this Agreement) and (y) the actual amount of dividends paid on
            account of each such series of Preferred Stock during the subject
            fiscal year, or (B) the excess of the actual EBITDA for such fiscal
            year over the EBITDA projected for such fiscal year in the Business
            Plan.

                                       63
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

            (b) Own, redeem, retire, purchase, or acquire any of the Borrower's
capital stock other than (i) repurchases in the ordinary course of business upon
the death or termination of employment of Management shareholders, and (ii)
redemptions of the Preferred Stock at the times and in the amounts required
under the Preferred Stock Documentation as in effect on the date hereof, but
only if, in the case of this clause (ii), (A) no Suspension Event exists or
would arise therefrom, and (B) Availability, immediately after giving effect to
any such redemption, shall be at least $3,000,000.00, and (C) if such redemption
is required because of the occurrence of an IPO (as defined in the Preferred
Stock Documentation), the amount paid on account of such redemption shall not
exceed the net proceeds received by the Borrower from such IPO.

            (c) Except as provided in Section 4-25 or with respect to Permitted
Acquisitions, invest in or purchase any stock or securities or rights to
purchase any such stock or securities, of any corporation or other entity.

            (d) Merge or consolidate or be merged or consolidated with or into
any other corporation or other entity, other than (i) the Anticipated Merger
(which the Borrower shall complete immediately following consummation of the
Acquisition), (ii) the merger of any of the Borrower's other Subsidiaries with
and into the Borrower, and (iii) in connection with any Permitted Acquisitions.

            (e) Consolidate any of the Borrower's operations with those of any
other corporation or other entity, except in connection (i) the Anticipated
Merger, and (ii) any Permitted Acquisition.

            (f) Organize or create any Subsidiary, other than in connection with
a Permitted Acquisition and only if (i) such Subsidiary guarantees the repayment
of the Liabilities and (ii) such Subsidiary grants the Agent, for the benefit of
the Agent and the Lenders, a first priority Encumbrance (subject to Permitted
Encumbrances) on all of its assets, all of the foregoing satisfactory in form
and substance to the Agent.

            (g) Subordinate any debts or obligations owed to the Borrower by any
third party to any other debts owed by such third party to any other Person.

            (h) Acquire any assets other than Permitted Acquisitions, by the
making of Capital Expenditures to the extent permitted hereunder, and other than
in the ordinary course and conduct of the Borrower's business permitted under
Section 4-21 hereof.

      4-19. Loans. The Borrower shall not make any loans or advances to, nor
acquire the Indebtedness of, any Person,

                                       64
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

provided, however, the foregoing does not prohibit any of the following:

            (a) Advance payments made to the Borrower's suppliers in the
ordinary course.

            (b) Advances to the Borrower's officers, employees, and salespersons
with respect to reasonable expenses to be incurred by such officers, employees,
and salespersons for the benefit of the Borrower in the ordinary course of
business, which expenses are properly substantiated by the person seeking such
advance and properly reimbursable by the Borrower.

            (c) Loans to non-Management employees in the ordinary course of
business, not to exceed $100,000.00 in the aggregate outstanding at any time.

            (d) Advances on account of sales of Inventory in the ordinary course
of business made on credit and all Accounts arising therefrom.

      4-20. Protection of Assets. The Agent, in the Agent's reasonable
discretion, and from time to time, may discharge any tax or Encumbrance on any
of the Collateral, or take any other action that the Agent may deem necessary to
repair, insure, maintain, preserve, collect, or realize upon any of the
Collateral. The Agent shall not have any obligation to undertake any of the
foregoing and shall have no liability on account of any action so undertaken
except where there is a specific finding in a judicial proceeding (in which the
Agent has had an opportunity to be heard), from which finding no further appeal
is available, that the Agent had acted in actual bad faith or in a grossly
negligent manner. The Borrower shall pay to the Agent, on demand, or the Agent,
in its reasonable discretion, may add to the Loan Account, all amounts paid or
incurred by the Agent pursuant to this section. The obligation of the Borrower
to pay such amounts is a Liability.

      4-21. Line of Business. The Borrower shall not engage in any business
other than the business in which it is currently engaged (which is agreed to be
the marketing, distribution and sale of apparel products and accessories and the
licensing of trade names, trademarks and intellectual property to third Persons
in connection with the foregoing) or a business reasonably related thereto (the
conduct of which reasonably related business is reflected in the Business Plan).

      4-22. Affiliate Transactions. The Borrower shall not make any payment, nor
give any value to any Related Entity except for goods and services actually
purchased by the Borrower from, or sold by the Borrower to, such Related Entity
for a price and on terms which shall not be less favorable to the Borrower from

                                       65
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

those which would have been charged in an arms length transaction, provided
that, notwithstanding the foregoing, until the occurrence, and during the
continuance, of an Event of Default, the Borrower may (a) pay management fees at
the times and in the amounts, and (b) may maintain and make payments with
respect to those transactions, in each case as set forth in EXHIBIT 4-22 hereof.

      4-23. Additional Assurances.

            (a) Except as set forth on EXHIBIT 4-23, the Borrower is not the
owner of, nor has it any interest in, any property or asset which, immediately
upon the satisfaction of the conditions precedent to the effectiveness of the
credit facility contemplated hereby (Article 3) will not be subject to a
perfected security or other collateral interest in favor of the Agent (subject
only to Permitted Encumbrances) to secure the Liabilities.

            (b) Except as set forth on EXHIBIT 4-23, the Borrower will not
hereafter acquire any asset or any interest in property which is not,
immediately upon such acquisition, subject to such a perfected security or other
collateral interest in favor of the Agent to secure the Liabilities (subject
only to Permitted Encumbrances).

            (c) The Borrower shall execute and deliver to the Agent such
instruments, documents, and papers, and shall do all such things from time to
time hereafter as the Agent may reasonably request to carry into effect the
provisions and intent of this Agreement; to protect and perfect the Agent's
security interests in the Collateral; and to comply in all material respects
with all applicable statutes and laws, and facilitate the collection of the
Receivables Collateral. The Borrower shall execute all such instruments as may
be reasonably required by the Agent with respect to the recordation and/or
perfection of the security interests created herein.

            (d) The Borrower hereby designates the Agent as and for the
Borrower's true and lawful attorney, with full power of substitution, to sign
and file any financing statements in order to perfect or protect the Agent's
security and other collateral interests in the Collateral.

            (e) To the full extent permitted by applicable law, a carbon,
photographic, or other reproduction of this Agreement or of any financing
statement or other instrument executed pursuant to this Section 4-23 shall be
sufficient for filing to perfect the security interests granted herein.

                                       66
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

      4-24. Adequacy of Disclosure.

            (a) All financial statements for periods after the date hereof which
are furnished to the Agent and each Lender by the Borrower shall be prepared in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied and present fairly, in all material
respects, the condition of the Borrower at the date(s) thereof and the results
of operations and cash flows for the period(s) covered.

            (b) To the knowledge of the Borrower's executive officers, as of the
date hereof, there has been no change in the financial condition, results of
operations, or cash flows of the business which is the subject of the
Acquisition from the financial statements which the Seller has furnished the
Borrower and the Borrower has, in turn, furnished the Agent, other than changes
in the ordinary course of business, which changes have not been materially
adverse, either singularly or in the aggregate.

            (c) As of the effective date of this Agreement, the Borrower does
not have any contingent obligations or obligation under any Lease or Capital
Lease which is not noted in the Borrower's financial statements furnished to the
Agent and each Lender prior to the execution of this Agreement.

            (d) No document, instrument, agreement, or paper now or hereafter
given the Agent or any Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower in connection with
the execution of this Agreement by the Agent and each Lender contains or will
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omits or will omit to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading.
There is no fact known to the Borrower which has, or which, in the foreseeable
future would reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on the
financial condition of the Borrower which has not been disclosed in writing to
the Agent and each Lender.

      4-25. Investments. As long as no Revolving Credit Loans are then
outstanding, the Borrower may make investments consisting of Cash Equivalents
maintained at BankBoston, N.A. or at the bank in which the Operating Account has
been established, funds on deposit in the Operating Account and the DDAs.

      4-26. Other Covenants. The Borrower shall not indirectly do or cause to be
done any act which, if done directly by the Borrower, would breach any covenant
contained in this Agreement.

ARTICLE 5 - FINANCIAL REPORTING AND PERFORMANCE COVENANTS:

      5-1.  Maintain Records. The Borrower shall:

                                       67
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

            (a) At all times, keep proper books of account, in which full, true,
and accurate entries shall be made of all of the Borrower's transactions after
the date of the consummation of the Acquisition, all in accordance with GAAP,
applied consistently with all prior periods arising after the consummation of
the Acquisition, to fairly reflect, in all material respects, the financial
condition of the Borrower at the close of, and its results of operations for,
the periods in question. (The Agent hereby acknowledges that the records
maintained prior to the Acquisition may not have been maintained by the Seller
in accordance with GAAP).

            (b) Timely provide the Agent with those financial reports,
statements, and schedules required by this Article 5 or otherwise, each of which
reports, statements and schedules shall be prepared, to the extent applicable,
in accordance with GAAP (but for the absence of footnotes and year end
adjustments), applied consistently with all prior periods arising after the
consummation of the Acquisition, to fairly reflect, in all material respects,
the financial condition of the Borrower at the close of, and its results of
operations for, the period(s) covered therein.

            (c) At all times, keep accurate (in all material respects) and
current records of the Collateral including, without limitation, accurate
current stock, cost, and sales records of its Inventory, accurately and
sufficiently itemizing and describing the kinds, types, and quantities of
Inventory and the cost and selling prices thereof.

            (d) At all times, retain independent certified public accountants
who are reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and instruct such accountants to
fully cooperate with, and be available to, the Agent and each Lender to discuss
the Borrower's financial performance, financial condition, operating results,
controls, and such other matters, within the scope of the retention of such
accountants, as may be raised by the Agent or that Lender.

            (e) Not change the Borrower's fiscal year for book accounting
purposes.

      5-2.  Access to Records.

            (a) The Borrower shall afford the Agent and the Agent's
representatives with access from time to time, during normal business hours and,
unless an Event of Default exists, upon reasonable notice, as the Agent and such
representatives may require to all properties owned by or over which the
Borrower has control. The Agent and the Agent's representatives shall have the
right, and the Borrower will permit the Agent and such representatives from time
to time as the Agent and such

                                       68
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

representatives may request, during normal business hours and, unless an Event
of Default exists, upon reasonable notice, to examine, inspect, copy, and make
extracts from any and all of the Borrower's books, records, electronically
stored data, papers, and files pertaining to its business operations, financial
information or the Collateral. The Borrower shall make copying facilities
reasonably available to the Agent.

            (b) The Borrower hereby authorizes the Agent and the Agent's
representatives to:

                  (i) Inspect, copy, duplicate, review, cause to be reduced to
      hard copy, run off, draw off, and otherwise use any and all computer or
      electronically stored information or data which relates to the Borrower,
      whether in the possession of the Borrower or in the possession of any
      service bureau, contractor, accountant, or other person, (and the Borrower
      directs any such service bureau, contractor, accountant, or other person
      fully to cooperate with the Agent and the Agent's representatives with
      respect thereto), provided that, as long as no Event of Default then
      exists and is continuing such inspections and reviews shall not take place
      more frequently than three (3) times in any twelve (12) month period.

                  (ii) Verify at any time the Collateral or any portion thereof,
      including verification with Account Debtors, and/or with the Borrower's
      computer billing companies, collection agencies, and accountants and to
      sign the name of the Borrower on any notice to the Borrower's Account
      Debtors or verification of the Collateral, provided that, as long as no
      Event of Default exists and is continuing, the form and content of any
      such verification letters shall be subject to the prior approval of the
      Borrower (whose consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

      5-3.  Prompt Notice to Agent.

            (a) The Borrower shall provide the Agent with written notice
promptly upon the occurrence of any of the following events, which written
notice shall be with reasonable particularity as to the facts and circumstances
in respect of which such notice is being given:

                  (i) Any change in the Borrower's executive officers.

                  (ii) The completion of any physical count of the Borrower's
      Inventory (together with a copy of the certified results thereof).

                                       69
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

                  (iii) Any ceasing of the Borrower's making of payment, in the
      ordinary course, to a material portion (in amount or number) of its
      creditors.

                  (iv) Any failure by the Borrower to pay rent at any of the
      Borrower's locations, which failure continues for more than twenty (20)
      Business Days following the day on which such rent first came due, except
      for Leases for such locations which have been terminated or abandoned by
      the Borrower.

                  (v) Any material change in the business, operations, or
      financial affairs of the Borrower.

                  (vi) The occurrence of any Suspension Event, that has not been
      cured by the Borrower or waived by the Agent and the Lenders.

                  (vii) Any decision on the part of the Borrower to discharge
      the Borrower's present independent accountants or any withdrawal or
      resignation by such independent accountants from their acting in such
      capacity (as to which, see Subsection 5-1(d)).

                  (viii) Any litigation which, if determined adversely to the
      Borrower, would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect
      on the financial condition of the Borrower.

            (b) The Borrower shall provide the Agent, when received by the
Borrower, with a copy of any management letter or similar communications from
any accountant of the Borrower.

      5-4. Borrowing Base Certificate. The Borrower shall provide the Agent with
a Borrowing Base Certificate (in the form of EXHIBIT 5-4 annexed hereto, as such
form may be revised from time to time by the Agent), together with such
supporting schedules as may be required by the Agent, by 11:30 AM no less
frequently than on each Wednesday, as of the immediately preceding Saturday.
Such Certificate may be sent to the Agent by facsimile transmission.

      5-5. Weekly Reports. Weekly, on Wednesday of each week (as of the then
immediately preceding Saturday) the Borrower shall provide the Agent with a
sales audit report (in such form as may reasonably be specified from time to
time by the Agent). Such report may be sent to the Agent by facsimile
transmission.

      5-6.  Monthly Reports.

                                       70
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

            (a) Monthly, the Borrower shall provide the Agent with original
counterparts of the following (each in such form as the Agent from time to time
may reasonably specify):

                  (i) Within Fifteen (15) days of the end of the previous month:

                        (A) A "Stock Ledger Inventory Report" and a Certificate
            (signed by the Borrower's Controller or Chief Financial Officer)
            concerning the Borrower's Inventory.

                        (B) An aging of the Borrower's Inventory, to the extent
            available.

                        (C) A Rolling Operating Forecast.

                  (ii)  Within Thirty (30) days of the end of the previous
            month:

                        (A) Reconciliations of the above described Report and
            Inventory Certificate (Section 5-6(a)(i)(A)) to Availability and to
            the general ledger as of the end of the subject month.

                        (B) A Gross Margin Reconciliation.

                        (C) An aging of the Borrower's accounts payable.

                        (D) A Store Activity Report.

                        (E) An internally prepared financial statement of the
            Borrower's financial condition and the results of its operations
            for, the period ending with the end of the subject month, which
            financial statement shall include, at a minimum, a balance sheet,
            income statement (on a "consolidated" basis), cash flow and
            comparison of same store sales for the corresponding month of the
            then immediately previous year, as well as to the Business Plan, and
            Management's analysis and discussion of the operating results
            reflected therein.

            (b) For purposes of Section 5-6(a)(i), above, the first "previous
month" in respect of which the items required by that Section shall be provided
shall be August, 1998 and for purposes of Section 5-6(a)(ii), above, the first
"previous month" in respect of which the items required by that Section shall be
provided shall be August, 1998.

      5-7. Quarterly Reports. Quarterly, within forty-five (45) days following
the end of each of the Borrower's fiscal quarters,

                                       71
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

the Borrower shall furnish the Agent with an internally prepared financial
statement of the Borrower's financial condition and the results of its
operations for, the period ending with the end of the subject quarter, which
financial statement shall include, at a minimum, a balance sheet, income
statement (on a "consolidated" basis), cash flow and comparison of same store
sales for the corresponding quarter of the then immediately previous year, as
well as to the Business Plan, and Management's analysis and discussion of the
operating results reflected therein.

      5-8.  Annual Reports.

            (a) Annually, within one hundred twenty (120) days following the end
of the Borrower's fiscal year, the Borrower shall furnish the Agent with an
original signed counterpart of the Borrower's annual financial statement, which
statement shall have been prepared by, and bear the unqualified opinion of, the
Borrower's independent certified public accountants (i.e. said statement shall
be "certified" by such accountants). Such annual statement shall include, at a
minimum (with comparative information for the then prior fiscal year) a balance
sheet, income statement, statement of changes in shareholders' equity, and cash
flows.

            (b) No later than the earlier of Fifteen (15) days prior to the end
of each of the Borrower's fiscal years or the date on which such accountants
commence their work on the preparation of the Borrower's annual financial
statement, the Borrower shall give written notice to such accountants (with a
copy of such notice, when sent, to the Agent) that:

                  (i) Such annual financial statement will be delivered by the
            Borrower to the Agent (for subsequent distribution to each Lender).

                  (ii) It is an intention of the Borrower, in its engagement of
            such accountants, to satisfy the financial reporting requirements
            set forth in this Article 5.

                  (iii) The Borrower has been advised that the Agent (and each
            Lender) will rely thereon with respect to the administration of, and
            transactions under, the credit facility contemplated by this
            Agreement.

            (c) Each annual statement shall be accompanied by such accountant's
Certificate indicating that, in the preparation of such annual statement, such
accountants did not conclude that any Suspension Event had occurred during the
subject fiscal year (or if one or more had occurred, the facts and circumstances
thereof).

                                       72
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

      5-9. Officers' Certificates. The Borrower shall cause the Borrower's
Controller and Chief Financial Officer respectively to provide such Person's
Certificate (prepared in their corporate and not individual capacities) with
those monthly, quarterly, and annual statements to be furnished pursuant to this
Agreement, which Certificate shall:

            (a) Indicate that the subject statement was prepared in accordance
with GAAP (but only with respect to periods after consummation of the
Acquisition) consistently applied and presents fairly in all material respects
the financial condition of the Borrower at the close of, and the results of the
Borrower's operations and cash flows for, the period(s) covered, subject,
however to the following:

                  (i) year end adjustments (this exception shall not be included
      in the Certificate which accompanies such annual statement).

                  (ii) Material Accounting Changes (in which event, such
      Certificate shall include a schedule (in reasonable detail) of the effect
      of each such Material Accounting Change) not previously specifically taken
      into account in the determination of the financial performance covenant
      imposed pursuant to Section 5-12.

            (b) Indicate either that (i) no Suspension Event has occurred or
(ii) if such an event has occurred, its nature (in reasonable detail) and the
steps (if any) being taken or contemplated by the Borrower to be taken on
account thereof.

            (c) With the quarterly and annual statements only, include
calculations concerning the Borrower's compliance (or failure to comply) at the
date of the subject statement with each of the financial performance covenants
included in Section 5-12 hereof.

      5-10. Inventories, Appraisals, and Audits.

            (a) The Agent, at the expense of the Borrower, may participate in
and/or observe each physical count and/or inventory of so much of the Collateral
as consists of Inventory which is undertaken on behalf of, and at the request
of, the Borrower.

            (b) The Borrower, at its own expense, shall cause not less than one
(1) physical inventory to be undertaken in each twelve (12) month period during
which this Agreement is in effect conducted by such inventory takers as are
reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and following such methodology as may be
reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.

                                       73
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

                  (i) The Borrower shall provide the Agent with a copy of the
      preliminary results of each such inventory (as well as of any other
      physical inventory undertaken by the Borrower) within fourteen (14) days
      following the completion of such inventory.

                  (ii) The Borrower shall provide the Agent with a
      reconciliation of the results of each such inventory (as well as of any
      other physical inventory undertaken by the Borrower) to the Borrower's
      books and records within forty-five (45) days following completion of
      such inventory.

                  (iii) The Agent, in its discretion, following the occurrence,
      and during the continuance, of a Suspension Event, may cause such
      additional inventories to be taken as the Agent determines (each, at the
      expense of the Borrower).

            (c) Upon the Agent's request from time to time, the Borrower shall
permit the Agent to obtain appraisals (except as set forth in the proviso below,
in all events, at the Borrower's expense) conducted by such appraisers as are
satisfactory to the Agent and using a methodology similar in scope and nature as
was undertaken on behalf of the Agent prior to the effectiveness of this
Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, the Agent may obtain periodic
Inventory liquidation analyses performed by Hilco/Great American Group or
another liquidation analysis firm selected by the Agent, provided that, as long
as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Agent shall not
require the Borrower to pay for more than three (3) such appraisals, or in
excess of $40,000.00 in the aggregate, in any twelve month period.

            (d) The Agent contemplates conducting Three (3) commercial finance
audits of the Borrower's books and records during any Twelve (12) month period
during which this Agreement is in effect, using a methodology similar in scope
and nature as was undertaken on behalf of the Agent prior to the effectiveness
of this Agreement. In its discretion, following the occurrence of a Suspension
Event, the Agent may undertake additional such audits during such period. Such
commercial finance examinations shall be at the Borrower's expense, provided
that prior to the occurrence, and during the continuance, of an Event of
Default, the maximum amount payable by the Borrower in any fiscal year shall not
exceed $25,000.00 in the aggregate.

            (e) The Agent from time to time may undertake "mystery shopping"
(so-called) visits to all or any of the Borrower's business premises. Such
mystery shopping shall be at the Borrower's expense, provided that prior to the
occurrence, and during the continuance, of an Event of Default, the maximum
amount payable by the Borrower in any fiscal year shall not exceed $1,500.00 in
the aggregate. The Agent shall provide the

                                       74
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

Borrower with a copy of any non-confidential results of such mystery shopping.

      5-11. Additional Financial Information.

            (a) In addition to all other information required to be provided
pursuant to this Article 5, the Borrower promptly shall provide the Agent (and
any guarantor of the Liabilities shall also provide the Agent), with such other
and additional information concerning the Borrower (or guarantor), the
Collateral, the operation of the Borrower's (or guarantor's) business, and the
Borrower's (or guarantor's) financial condition, including original counterparts
of financial reports and statements, as the Agent may from time to time
reasonably request from the Borrower.

            (b) The Borrower may provide the Agent, from time to time hereafter,
with updated projections of the Borrower's anticipated performance and operating
results.

            (c) In all events, the Borrower, no sooner than ninety (90) nor
later than thirty (30) days prior to the end of each of the Borrower's fiscal
years, shall furnish the Agent with an updated and extended projection which
shall go out at least through the end of the then next fiscal year. Together
with such updated and extended projections, the Borrower shall deliver to the
Agent a description of the methodology and assumptions upon which the
projections were prepared.

            (d) The Borrower recognizes that all appraisals, inventories,
analysis, financial information, and other materials which the Agent or any
Lender may obtain, develop, or receive with respect to the Borrower is
confidential to the Agent and the Lenders and that, except as otherwise provided
herein, the Borrower is not entitled to receipt of any of such appraisals,
inventories, analysis, financial information, and other materials, nor copies or
extracts thereof or therefrom.

      5-12. Financial Performance Covenants. The Borrower shall observe and
comply with those financial performance covenants set forth on EXHIBIT 5-12(a),
annexed hereto, certain of which covenants are based on the Business Plan set
forth on EXHIBIT 5-12(b), annexed hereto. Such financial performance covenants
are subject to change, revision, roll over, and extension as provided in Section
5-11 hereof. Compliance with such financial performance covenants shall be made
as if no Material Accounting Changes had been made (other than any Material
Accounting Changes specifically taken into account in the setting of such
covenants). The Lender may determine the Borrower's compliance with such
covenants based upon financial reports and statements provided by the Borrower
to the Agent (whether or not such financial reports and statements are

                                       75
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

required to be furnished pursuant to this Agreement) as well as by reference to
interim financial information provided to, or developed by, the Agent.

ARTICLE 6 - USE AND COLLECTION OF COLLATERAL:

      6-1.  Use of Inventory Collateral.

            (a) The Borrower shall not engage in any sale of the Inventory other
than for fair consideration in the conduct of the Borrower's business in the
ordinary course (other than promotions, markdowns, and discounts in the ordinary
course of business) and shall not engage in sales or other dispositions to
creditors in reduction or satisfaction of such creditors' claims; sales or other
dispositions in bulk; and any use of any of the Inventory in breach of any
provision of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower may
"job-out" end of season and slow-moving Inventory, provided that the Inventory
so disposed of does not exceed five percent (5%) of the Borrower's aggregate
retail receipts in any fiscal year.

            (b) No sale of Inventory shall be on consignment, approval, or under
any other circumstances such that, with the exception of the Borrower's
customary return policy applicable to the return of inventory purchased by the
Borrower's retail customers in the ordinary course, such Inventory may be
returned to the Borrower without the consent of the Agent.

      6-2. Adjustments and Allowances. The Borrower may grant such allowances or
other adjustments to the Borrower's Account Debtors as the Borrower may
reasonably deem to accord with sound business practice, provided, however, the
authority granted the Borrower pursuant to this Section 6-2 may be limited or
terminated by the Lender at any time after the occurrence, and during the
continuance, of an Event of Default in the Agent's discretion.

      6-3.  Validity of Accounts.

            (a) The amount of each Account shown on the books, records, and
invoices of the Borrower represented as owing by each Account Debtor is and will
be the correct amount actually owing by such Account Debtor (subject to
adjustments for returned Inventory in the ordinary course of business) and shall
have been fully earned by performance by the Borrower.

            (b) The Agent, from time to time (at the expense of the Borrower in
each instance), may verify the validity, amount, and all other matters with
respect to the Receivables Collateral directly with Account Debtors (including
without limitation, by forwarding balance verification requests to the
Borrower's Account Debtors), and with the Borrower's accountants, collection

                                       76
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

agents, and computer service bureaus (each of which is hereby authorized and
directed to cooperate in full with the Lender and to provide the Agent with such
information and materials as the Agent may request), provided that, as long as
no Event of Default exists and is continuing, the form and content of any such
verification letters shall be subject to the prior approval of the Borrower
(whose consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

            (c) The Borrower has no knowledge of any impairment of the validity
or collectibility of any of the Accounts (other than customary adjustments and
chargebacks in the ordinary course of business) and shall notify the Agent of
any such fact immediately after Borrower becomes aware of any such impairment.

            (d) Except as set forth in EXHIBIT 6-3, the Borrower shall not post
any bond to secure the Borrower's performance under any agreement to which the
Borrower is a party nor cause any surety, guarantor, or other third party
obligee to become liable to perform any obligation of the Borrower (other than
to the Agent) in the event of the Borrower's failure so to perform.

      6-4. Notification to Account Debtors. The Agent shall have the right at
any time after the occurrence, and during the continuance, of an Event of
Default, to notify any of the Borrower's Account Debtors to make payment
directly to the Agent and to collect all amounts due on account of the
Collateral.

ARTICLE 7 - CASH MANAGEMENT. PAYMENT OF LIABILITIES:

      7-1   Depository Accounts.

            (a) Annexed hereto as EXHIBIT 7-1 is a Schedule of all present
DDA's, which Schedule includes, with respect to each depository (i) the name and
address of that depository; (ii) the account number(s) of the account(s)
maintained with such depository; and (iii) a contact person at such depository.

            (b) The Borrower shall deliver to the Agent, as a condition to the
effectiveness of this Agreement:

                  (i) Notification, executed on behalf of the Borrower, to each
      depository institution with which any DDA is maintained (other than the
      Operating Account), in form reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, of the
      Agent's interest in such DDA.

                  (ii) An agreement (generally referred to as a "Blocked Account
      Agreement"), in form reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, with any
      depository institution at which a Blocked Account is maintained.

                                       77
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

                  (iii) An agreement, in form reasonably satisfactory to the
      Agent, with any depository institution at which the Operating Account is
      maintained.

            (c) The Borrower will not establish any DDA hereafter unless,
contemporaneous with such establishment, the Borrower delivers to the Agent an
agreement (in form satisfactory to the Agent) executed on behalf of the
depository with which such DDA is being established.

      7-2.  Credit Card Receipts.

            (a) Annexed hereto as EXHIBIT 7-2, is a Schedule which describes all
arrangements to which the Borrower is a party with respect to the payment to the
Borrower of the proceeds of all credit card charges for sales by the Borrower.

            (b) The Borrower shall deliver to the Agent, as a condition to the
effectiveness of this Agreement, notification, executed on behalf of the
Borrower, to each of the Borrower's credit card clearinghouses and processors of
notice (in form satisfactory to the Agent), which notice provides that payment
of all credit card charges submitted by the Borrower to that clearinghouse or
other processor and any other amount payable to the Borrower by such
clearinghouse or other processor shall be directed to the Concentration Account
or as otherwise designated from time to time by the Agent. The Borrower shall
not change such direction or designation except upon and with the prior written
consent of the Agent.

      7-3.  The Concentration, Blocked, and Operating Accounts.

            (a) The following checking accounts have been or will be established
(and are so referred to herein):

                  (i) The CONCENTRATION ACCOUNT: Established by the Agent with
      BankBoston, N.A..

                  (ii) The BLOCKED ACCOUNT: Established by the Borrower with
      Citibank, N.A.

                  (iii) The OPERATING ACCOUNT: Established by the Borrower with
      Citibank, N.A.

            (b) The contents of each DDA, of the Operating Account, and of the
Blocked Account constitutes Collateral and Proceeds of Collateral. The contents
of the Concentration Account constitutes the Agent's property.

            (c) The Borrower:

                                       78
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

                  (i) Contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement,
      shall provide the Agent with such agreement (generally referred to as a
      "Blocked Account Agreement") of the depository with which the Blocked
      Account is maintained as may be reasonably satisfactory to the Agent;

                  (ii) Contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement,
      shall provide the Agent with such agreement of the depository with which
      the Operating Account is maintained as may be reasonably satisfactory to
      the Agent; and

                  (iii) Shall not establish any Blocked Account or Operating
      Account hereafter except upon not less than Thirty (30) days prior written
      notice to the Agent and the delivery to the Agent of a similar such
      agreement.

                  (iv) Within sixty (60) days after the date hereof, shall
      terminate the existing Blocked Account with Citibank, N.A. and shall
      establish a Blocked Account with such other depository as may reasonably
      satisfactory to the Agent.

            (d) The Borrower shall pay all fees and charges of, and maintain
such impressed balances as may be required by the Agent or by any bank in which
any account is opened as required hereby (even if such account is opened by
and/or is the property of the Agent).

      7-4.  Proceeds and Collection of Accounts.

            (a) All Receipts constitute Collateral and proceeds of Collateral
and shall be held in trust by the Borrower for the Agent; shall not be
commingled with any of the Borrower's other funds; and shall be deposited and/or
transferred only to the Blocked Account.

            (b) The Borrower shall cause the ACH or wire transfer to the Blocked
Account, no less frequently than daily (and whether or not there is then an
outstanding balance in the Loan Account) of

                  (i) the then current contents of each DDA (other than the
      Operating Account), each such transfer to be net of any minimum balance,
      not to exceed $5,000.00, as may be required to be maintained in the
      subject DDA by the bank at which such DDA is maintained); and

                  (ii) the proceeds of all credit card charges not otherwise
      provided for pursuant hereto.

                                       79
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

Telephone advice (confirmed by written notice) shall be provided to the Agent on
each Business Day on which any such transfer is made.

            (c) Whether or not any Liabilities are then outstanding, the
Borrower shall cause the ACH or wire transfer to the Concentration Account, no
less frequently than daily, of then entire ledger balance of the Blocked
Account, net of such minimum balance, not to exceed $5,000.00, as may be
required to be maintained in the Blocked Account by the bank at which the
Blocked Account is maintained.

            (d) In the event that, notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 7-4, the Borrower receives or otherwise has dominion and control of any
Receipts, or any proceeds or collections of any Collateral, such Receipts,
proceeds, and collections shall be held in trust by the Borrower for the Agent
and shall not be commingled with any of the Borrower's other funds or deposited
in any account of the Borrower other than as instructed by the Agent.

      7-5.  Payment of Liabilities.

            (a) On each Business Day, the Agent shall apply, towards the
Liabilities, the then collected balance of the Concentration Account (net of
fees charged, and of such impressed balances as may be required by the bank at
which the Concentration Account is maintained).

            (b) The following rules shall apply to deposits and payments under
and pursuant to this Agreement:

                  (i) Funds shall be deemed to have been deposited to the
            Concentration Account on the Business Day on which deposited,
            provided that notice of such deposit is available to the Agent by
            2:00 PM on that Business Day.

                  (ii) Funds paid to the Agent, other than by deposit to the
            Concentration Account, shall be deemed to have been received on the
            Business Day when they are good and collected funds, provided that
            notice of such payment is available to the Agent by 2:00PM on that
            Business Day.

                  (iii) If notice of a deposit to the Concentration Account
            (Section 7-5(b)(i)) or payment (Section 7-5(b)(ii)) is not
            available to the Agent until after 2:00PM on a Business Day, such
            deposit or payment shall be deemed to have been made at 9:00 AM on
            the then next Business Day.

                                       80
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

                  (iv) All deposits to the Concentration Account and other
            payments to the Agent are subject to clearance and collection.

                  (v) All payments shall be applied First to pay Liabilities
            other than the principal balance of the Loan Account; Second in
            reduction of Base Margin Loans until paid in full, and Third in
            reduction of Eurodollar Loans until paid in full, together with any
            amounts which become due as a result of such payment pursuant to
            Section 2-8(e) hereof; provided that at the Borrower's option, as
            long as no Event of Default then exists, the Borrower shall have the
            right, in lieu of making a prepayment on account of the Eurodollar
            Loans, to cause any amounts in excess of the sums required to pay
            the Liabilities described in clauses First and Second, above, to be
            deposited with the Agent and held as collateral for the Liabilities
            and applied to the payment of the applicable Eurodollar Loans at the
            end of the current Interest Periods applicable thereto, in order of
            maturity of such Interest Periods (or upon the occurrence, and
            during the continuance, of an Event of Default, to the Liabilities
            in such order and manner as the Agent, in its discretion, shall
            determine).

            (c) The Agent shall transfer to the Operating Account any surplus in
the Concentration Account remaining after the application towards the
Liabilities referred to in Section 7- 5(a), above (less those amount which are
to be netted out, as provided therein) provided, however, in the event that both
(i) a Suspension Event has occurred and is continuing, and (ii) one or more
L/C's are then outstanding, the Agent may establish a funded reserve of up to
103% of the aggregate Stated Amounts of such L/C's.

      7-6. The Operating Account. Except as otherwise specifically provided in,
or permitted by, this Agreement, all checks shall be drawn by the Borrower upon,
and other disbursements shall be made by the Borrower solely from, the Operating
Account. Until the occurrence, and during the continuance, of an Event of
Default, as provided in the agreement with the depository with which the
Operating Account has been established, the Agent shall not be entitled to
exercise any dominion or control over the funds in the Operating Account.

ARTICLE 8 - GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST:

      8-1. Grant of Security Interest. To secure the Borrower's prompt,
punctual, and faithful performance of all and each of the Liabilities, the
Borrower hereby grants to the Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, a
continuing security interest in and to, and assigns to the Agent, for the
ratable benefit of the

                                       81
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

Lenders, the following, and each item thereof, whether now owned or now due, or
in which the Borrower has an interest, or hereafter acquired, arising, or to
become due, or in which the Borrower obtains an interest, and all products,
Proceeds, substitutions, and accessions of or to any of the following (all of
which, together with any other property in which the Agent may in the future be
granted a security interest, is referred to herein as the "COLLATERAL"):

            (a)   All Accounts and Accounts Receivable.

            (b)   All Inventory.

            (c)   All General Intangibles.

            (d)   All Equipment.

            (e)   All Goods.

            (f)   All Fixtures.

            (g)   All Chattel Paper.

            (h)   All books, records, and information relating to the Collateral
                  and/or to the operation of the Borrower's business, and all
                  rights of access to such books, records, and information, and
                  all property in which such books, records, and information are
                  stored, recorded, and maintained.

            (i)   All Investment Property, Instruments, Documents, Deposit
                  Accounts, policies and certificates of insurance, deposits,
                  impressed accounts, compensating balances, money, cash, or
                  other property.

            (j)   All insurance proceeds, refunds, and premium rebates,
                  including, without limitation, proceeds of fire and credit
                  insurance, whether any of such proceeds, refunds, and premium
                  rebates arise out of any of the foregoing(8-1(a) through
                  8-1(i)) or otherwise.

            (k)   All liens, guaranties, rights, remedies, and privileges
                  pertaining to any of the foregoing (8- 1(a) through 8-1(i)),
                  including the right of stoppage in transit.

provided that, the Collateral shall not include (i) key man life insurance
policies or proceeds to fund stock repurchases from deceased Management, or (ii)
leases or licenses and rights thereunder to the extent of enforceable
anti-assignment

                                       82
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

provisions therein contained which have not been waived, provided, however, that
in no event shall the foregoing be construed to exclude from the security
interest created by this Agreement, proceeds or products of any such leases or
licenses or any accounts receivable or the right to payments due or to become
due the Borrower under any such lease or license.

      8-2. Extent and Duration of Security Interest. This grant of a security
interest is in addition to, and supplemental of, any security interest
previously granted by the Borrower to the Agent and shall continue in full force
and effect applicable to all Liabilities, until all Liabilities have been paid
and/or satisfied in full (other than indemnities not then due and payable, which
survive repayment of the Revolving Credit Loans and the L/Cs and termination of
the Commitments) and the security interest granted herein is specifically
terminated in writing by a duly authorized officer of the Agent (which the Agent
agrees to do upon payment and satisfaction of all such Liabilities).

ARTICLE 9 - AGENT AS BORROWER'S ATTORNEY-IN-FACT:

      9-1. Appointment as Attorney-In-Fact. The Borrower hereby irrevocably
constitutes and appoints the Agent as the Borrower's true and lawful attorney,
with full power of substitution, exercisable after the occurrence, and during
the continuance, of an Event of Default, to convert the Collateral into cash at
the sole risk, cost, and expense of the Borrower, but for the sole benefit of
the Agent. The rights and powers granted the Agent by this appointment include
but are not limited to the right and power to:

            (a) Prosecute, defend, compromise, or release any action relating to
the Collateral.

            (b) Sign change of address forms to change the address to which the
Borrower's mail is to be sent to such address as the Agent shall designate;
receive and open the Borrower's mail; remove any Receivables Collateral and
Proceeds of Collateral therefrom and turn over the balance of such mail either
to the Borrower or to any trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, assignee for the
benefit of creditors of the Borrower, or other legal representative of the
Borrower whom the Agent determines to be the appropriate person to whom to so
turn over such mail.

            (c) Endorse the name of the Borrower in favor of the Agent upon any
and all checks, drafts, notes, acceptances, or other items or instruments; sign
and endorse the name of the Borrower on, and receive as secured party, any of
the Collateral, any invoices, schedules of Collateral, freight or express
receipts, or bills of lading, storage receipts, warehouse receipts, or other
documents of title respectively relating to the Collateral.

                                       83
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

            (d) Sign the name of the Borrower on any notice to the Borrower's
Account Debtors or verification of the Receivables Collateral; sign the
Borrower's name on any Proof of Claim in Bankruptcy against Account Debtors, and
on notices of lien, claims of mechanic's liens, or assignments or releases of
mechanic's liens securing the Accounts.

            (e) Take all such action as may be necessary to obtain the payment
of any letter of credit and/or banker's acceptance of which the Borrower is a
beneficiary.

            (f) Repair, manufacture, assemble, complete, package, deliver, alter
or supply goods, if any, necessary to fulfill in whole or in part the purchase
order of any customer of the Borrower.

            (g) Use, license or transfer any or all General Intangibles of the
Borrower.

      9-2. No Obligation to Act. The Agent shall not be obligated to do any of
the acts or to exercise any of the powers authorized by Section 9-1 herein, but
if the Agent elects to do any such act or to exercise any of such powers, it
shall not be accountable for more than it actually receives as a result of such
exercise of power, provided that, if the Agent elects to use or license any
General Intangibles of the Borrower consisting of trademarks, copyrights or
similar property, the Agent shall use reasonable efforts to preserve and
maintain any such trademark, copyright or similar property (but nothing
contained herein shall obligate the Agent to undertake (or refrain from
undertaking) any specific action with respect thereto). The Agent and the
Lenders shall not be responsible to the Borrower for any act or omission to act
pursuant to Section 9-1, except to the extent that the subject act or omission
to act had been grossly negligent or in actual bad faith.

ARTICLE 10 - EVENTS OF DEFAULT:

      The occurrence of any event described in this Article 10 shall constitute
an "EVENT OF DEFAULT" herein. Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default
described in Section 10-12, any and all Liabilities shall become due and payable
without any further act on the part of the Agent or any Lender. Upon the
occurrence, and during the continuance, of any other Event of Default, any and
all Liabilities shall become immediately due and payable, at the option of the
Agent and without notice or demand. The occurrence and continuance of any Event
of Default shall also constitute, without notice or demand, a default under all
other Loan Documents, whether such Loan Documents now exist or hereafter arise.

                                       84
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

      10-1. Failure to Pay Revolving Credit. The failure by the Borrower to pay
any principal amount when due under the Revolving Credit.

      10-2. Failure To Make Other Payments. The failure by the Borrower to pay
when due (or upon demand, if payable on demand) any payment Liability within
three (3) days of the date when due other than the principal amount under the
Revolving Credit.

      10-3. Failure to Perform Covenant or Liability (No Grace Period). The
failure by the Borrower to promptly, punctually, faithfully and timely perform,
discharge, or comply with any covenant or Liability not otherwise described in
Section 10-1 or Section 10-2 hereof, and included in any of the following
provisions hereof:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  Section             Relates to            :
                  ------------------------------------------
<S>                                 <C>
                  4-5               Location of Collateral
                  4-6               Title to Assets
                  4-7               Indebtedness
                  4-8(b)            Insurance Policies
                  6-1               Use of Collateral
                  5-12              Financial Covenants
                  Article 7         Cash Management
</TABLE>

      10-4. Failure to Perform Covenant or Liability (Limited Grace Period). The
failure by the Borrower, upon three(3) days written notice by the Agent, to cure
the Borrower's failure to promptly, punctually and faithfully perform,
discharge, or comply with any covenant under Sections 4-13, 4-22, 4-23, and
Article 5 hereof (other than Sections 5-12 hereof).

      10-5. Failure to Perform Covenant or Liability (Grace Period). The failure
by the Borrower, upon fifteen (15) days written notice by the Agent, to cure the
Borrower's failure to promptly, punctually and faithfully perform, discharge, or
comply with any covenant hereunder or under any other Loan Document or with any
Liability not described in any of Sections 10-1, 10-2, 10-3 or 10-4 hereof.

      10-6. Misrepresentation. Any representation or warranty at any time made
by the Borrower to the Agent or any Lender is not true or complete in all
material respects when given.

      10-7. Default of Other Debt. The occurrence of any event such that any
Indebtedness of the Borrower to any creditor in excess of $1,000,000.00, other
than the Agent or any Lender, could then be accelerated (whether or not the
subject creditor takes any action on account of such occurrence), provided that
if such event is waived in writing by the holder of the Indebtedness prior to
the exercise of remedies by the Agent and the Lenders

                                       85
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

hereunder, the occurrence of such event shall not constitute an Event of Default
hereunder.

      10-8. Default of Leases. The occurrence of any event such that Leases of
the Borrower representing ten percent (10%) or more (in number) of all Leases of
the Borrower could then be terminated (whether or not any or all of the subject
lessors take any action on account of such occurrence), provided that if such
event is waived in writing by the subject lessors prior to the exercise of
remedies by the Agent and the Lenders hereunder, the occurrence of such event
shall not constitute an Event of Default hereunder.

      10-9. Uninsured Casualty Loss. The occurrence of any uninsured loss,
theft, damage, or destruction of or to any material portion of the Collateral,
having an aggregate value in excess of $500,000.00.

      10-10. Judgment. Restraint of Business.

            (a) The entry of any uninsured judgment against the Borrower, in
excess of $1,000,000.00, individually or in the aggregate, which judgment is not
satisfied (if a money judgment) or appealed from (with execution or similar
process stayed) within thirty (30) days of its entry.

            (b) The entry of any order or the imposition of any other process
having the force of law, in either case applicable specifically to the Borrower,
the effect of which is to restrain in any material adverse way the conduct by
the Borrower of its business in the ordinary course, which order is not
dissolved within ten (10) days of its imposition.

      10-11. Business Failure. Any act by, against, or relating to the Borrower,
or its property or assets, which act constitutes the application for, consent
to, or sufferance of the appointment of a receiver, trustee, or other person,
pursuant to court action or otherwise, over all, or any material part of the
Borrower's property; the granting of any trust mortgage or execution of an
assignment for the benefit of the creditors of the Borrower generally; the
offering by or entering into by the Borrower of any composition, extension, or
any other arrangement seeking relief generally from or extension of the debts of
the Borrower; or the initiation of any judicial or non-judicial proceeding or
agreement by, against, or including the Borrower which seeks or intends to
accomplish a reorganization or arrangement with creditors, provided that, if
such proceeding is initiated against the Borrower, an Event of Default shall not
arise hereunder unless such proceeding is not timely contested in good faith by
the Borrower by appropriate proceedings or, if so contested, is not dismissed
within sixty (60) days of when initiated; and/or the initiation by or on behalf
of the Borrower

                                       86
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

of the liquidation or winding up of all or any material part of the Borrower's
business or operations.

      10-12. Bankruptcy. The failure by the Borrower to generally pay the debts
of the Borrower as they mature; adjudication of bankruptcy or insolvency
relative to the Borrower; the entry of an order for relief or similar order with
respect to the Borrower in any proceeding pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code or any
other federal bankruptcy law; the filing of any complaint, application, or
petition by the Borrower initiating any matter in which the Borrower is or may
be granted any relief from its debts generally pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code
or any other insolvency statute or procedure of general application; the filing
of any complaint, application, or petition against the Borrower initiating any
matter in which the Borrower is or may be granted any relief from its debts
generally pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code or any other insolvency statute or
procedure of general application, which complaint, application, or petition is
not timely contested in good faith by the Borrower by appropriate proceedings
or, if so contested, is not dismissed within sixty (60) days of when filed.

      10-13. Default by Guarantor or Subsidiary. The occurrence of any of the
foregoing Events of Default with respect to any guarantor of the Liabilities, or
the occurrence of any of the foregoing Events of Default with respect to any
Subsidiary of the Borrower, as if such guarantor or Subsidiary were the
"Borrower" described therein.

      10-14. Indictment - Forfeiture. The indictment of, or institution of any
legal process or proceeding against, the Borrower, under any federal, state,
municipal, and other civil or criminal statute, rule, regulation, order, or
other requirement having the force of law where the relief, penalties, or
remedies sought or available include the forfeiture of any property of the
Borrower and/or the imposition of any stay or other order, the effect of which
would reasonably be expected to restrain in any material way the conduct by the
Borrower of its business in the ordinary course.

      10-15. Termination of Guaranty. The termination or attempted termination
of any guaranty by any guarantor of the Liabilities (other than in accordance
with its terms or as permitted by the Lenders).

      10-16. Challenge to Loan Documents.

            (a) Any challenge by or on behalf of the Borrower or any guarantor
of the Liabilities to the validity of any Loan Document or the applicability or
enforceability of any Loan Document strictly in accordance with the subject Loan
Document's terms or which seeks to void, avoid, limit, or otherwise

                                       87
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

adversely affect any security interest created by or in any Loan Document or any
payment made pursuant thereto.

            (b) Any determination by any court or any other judicial or
government authority that the Loan Documents, taken as a whole, are not
enforceable strictly in accordance with their terms or which voids, avoids,
limits, or otherwise adversely affects any security interest created by any Loan
Document or any payment made pursuant thereto.

      10-17. Executive Management. The death or disability of the Key Executive,
or the failure of the Key Executive at any time to serve as Chief Executive
Officer of the Borrower, provided, however,

            (a) such death, disability, or failure of said Key Executive shall
not constitute an "Event of Default" until Ninety (90) days after such
occurrence and, unless the Agent sooner waives such Event of Default, or gives
written notice of the acceleration of the Liabilities (as to which, see Proviso
(b), below), such death, disability, or failure shall cease to be an "Event of
Default" One Hundred Twenty (120) days after its having occurred; and

            (b) the Agent shall not accelerate the Liabilities on account of
such death, disability, or failure, except upon and with Thirty (30) days
written notice given at any time during the "window" period described in Proviso
(a), above.

      10-18. Change in Control. Any Change in Control.

ARTICLE 11 - RIGHTS AND REMEDIES UPON DEFAULT:

      In addition to all of the rights, remedies, powers, privileges, and
discretions which the Agent is provided prior to the occurrence of an Event of
Default, the Agent shall have the following rights and remedies upon the
occurrence, and during the continuance, of any Event of Default.

      11-1. Rights of Enforcement. The Agent shall have all of the rights and
remedies of a secured party upon default under the UCC, in addition to which the
Agent shall have all and each of the following rights and remedies:

            (a) To collect the Receivables Collateral with or without the taking
of possession of any of the Collateral.

            (b) To take possession of all or any portion of the Collateral.

            (c) To sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of any or all of the
Collateral, in its then condition or following such

                                       88
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

preparation or processing as the Agent deems advisable and with or without the
taking of possession of any of the Collateral.

            (d) To conduct one or more going out of business sales which include
the sale or other disposition of the Collateral.

            (e) To apply the Receivables Collateral or the Proceeds of the
Collateral towards (but not necessarily in complete satisfaction of) the
Liabilities.

            (f) To exercise all or any of the rights, remedies, powers,
privileges, and discretions under all or any of the Loan Documents.

      11-2. Sale of Collateral.

            (a) Any sale or other disposition of the Collateral may be at public
or private sale upon such terms and in such manner as the Agent deems advisable,
having due regard to compliance with any statute or regulation which might
affect, limit, or apply to the Agent's disposition of the Collateral.

            (b) The Agent, in the exercise of the Agent's rights and remedies
upon default, may conduct one or more going out of business sales, in the
Agent's own right or by one or more agents and contractors. Such sale(s) may be
conducted upon any premises owned, leased, or occupied by the Borrower. The
Agent and any such agent or contractor, in conjunction with any such sale, may
augment the Inventory with other goods (all of which other goods shall remain
the sole property of the Agent or such agent or contractor). Any amounts
realized from the sale of such goods which constitute augmentations to the
Inventory (net of an allocable share of the costs and expenses incurred in their
disposition) shall be the sole property of the Agent or such agent or contractor
and neither the Borrower nor any Person claiming under or in right of the
Borrower shall have any interest therein.

            (c) Unless the Collateral is perishable or threatens to decline
speedily in value, or is of a type customarily sold on a recognized market (in
which event the Agent shall provide the Borrower with such notice as may be
practicable under the circumstances), the Agent shall give the Borrower at least
ten (10) days prior written notice of the date, time, and place of any proposed
public sale, and of the date after which any private sale or other disposition
of the Collateral may be made. The Borrower agrees that such written notice
shall satisfy all requirements for notice to the Borrower which are imposed
under the UCC or other applicable law with respect to the exercise of the
Agent's rights and remedies upon default.

                                       89
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

            (d) The Agent and any Lender may purchase the Collateral, or any
portion of it at any sale held under this Article (to the extent permitted by
applicable law).

            (e) The Agent shall apply the proceeds of any exercise of the
Agent's Rights and Remedies under this Article 11 towards the Liabilities in the
following order:

      First:      To all costs and expenses incurred by the Agent under this
                  Agreement, or any other Loan Document, including all Costs of
                  Collection.

      Second:     To the extent that the Lenders are entitled to reimbursement
                  for costs and expenses as provided in this Agreement, to each
                  Lender, that Lender's costs and expenses described in Section
                  14-7 hereof.

      Third:      To each Lender (based upon its respective Commitment
                  Percentage), accrued and unpaid interest on the Revolving
                  Credit Loans until all accrued and unpaid interest on the
                  Revolving Credit Loans has been paid in full.

      Fourth:     To each Lender (based upon its respective Commitment
                  Percentage), until the unpaid principal balance of the
                  Revolving Credit Loans has been paid in full.

      Fifth:      To each Lender and the Agent, pro rata, until the remaining
                  balance of all fees (including L/C Fees, Line (Unused Fees),
                  Agent's fees, and Early Termination Fees) have been paid in
                  full.

      Sixth:      As provided under applicable law, to each Person then entitled
                  thereto.

      11-3. Occupation of Business Location. In connection with the Agent's
exercise of the Agent's rights under this Article 11, the Agent may enter upon,
occupy, and use any premises owned or occupied by the Borrower, and may exclude
the Borrower from such premises or portion thereof as may have been so entered
upon, occupied, or used by the Agent. The Agent shall not be required to remove
any of the Collateral from any such premises upon the Agent's taking possession
thereof, and may render any Collateral unusable to the Borrower. In no event
shall the Agent be liable to the Borrower for use or occupancy by the Agent of
any premises pursuant to this Article 11, nor for any charge (such as wages for
the Borrower's employees and utilities) incurred in connection with the Agent's
exercise of the Agent's Rights and Remedies, except for such charges which

                                       90
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

are incurred as a result of the Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct.

      11-4. Grant of Nonexclusive License. The Borrower hereby grants to the
Agent a royalty free nonexclusive irrevocable license, exercisable upon the
occurrence, and during the continuance, of an Event of Default, to use, apply,
and affix any trademark, trade name, logo, or the like in which the Borrower now
or hereafter has rights, such license being with respect to the Agent's exercise
of the rights hereunder including, without limitation, in connection with any
completion of the manufacture of Inventory or sale or other disposition of
Inventory. In exercising its rights under such license, the Agent shall use
reasonable efforts to preserve and maintain any such trademark, trade name, or
logo, but nothing contained herein shall obligate the Agent to undertake (or
refrain from undertaking) any specific action and the Agent and the Lenders
shall, under no circumstances, have any liability to the Borrower, except for
such which are a result of the Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct.

      11-5. Assembly of Collateral. The Agent may require the Borrower to
assemble the Collateral and make it available to the Agent at the Borrower's
sole risk and expense at a place or places which are reasonably convenient to
both the Agent and Borrower.

      11-6. Rights and Remedies. The rights, remedies, powers, privileges, and
discretions of the Agent hereunder (herein, the " AGENT'S RIGHTS AND REMEDIES")
shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies which it would
otherwise have. No delay or omission by the Agent in exercising or enforcing any
of the Agent's Rights and Remedies shall operate as, or constitute, a waiver
thereof. No waiver by the Agent of any Event of Default or of any default under
any other agreement shall operate as a waiver of any other default hereunder or
under any other agreement. No single or partial exercise of any of the Agent's
Rights or Remedies, and no express or implied agreement or transaction of
whatever nature entered into between the Agent and any person, at any time,
shall preclude the other or further exercise of the Agent's Rights and Remedies.
No waiver by the Agent of any of the Agent's Rights and Remedies on any one
occasion shall be deemed a waiver on any subsequent occasion, nor shall it be
deemed a continuing waiver. All of the Agent's Rights and Remedies and all of
the Agent's rights, remedies, powers, privileges, and discretions under any
other agreement or transaction are cumulative, and not alternative or exclusive,
and may be exercised by the Agent at such time or times and in such order of
preference as the Agent in its sole discretion may determine. The Agent's Rights
and Remedies may be exercised without resort or regard to any other source of
satisfaction of the Liabilities.

                                       91
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

ARTICLE 12 - NOTICES:

      12-1. Notice Addresses. All notices, demands, and other communications
made in respect of this Agreement (other than a request for a loan or advance or
other financial accommodation under the Revolving Credit) shall be made to the
following addresses, each of which may be changed upon seven (7) days written
notice to all others given by certified mail, return receipt requested:

If to the Agent:
                        BankBoston Retail Finance Inc.
                        40 Broad Street
                        Boston, Massachusetts 02109
                        Attention   :  Elizabeth Ratto
                                       Director
                        Fax         :  617 434-4339

      With a copy to:
                        Riemer & Braunstein
                        Three Center Plaza
                        Boston, Massachusetts  02108
                        Attention   :  David S. Berman, Esquire
                        Fax         :  617 723-6831

If to the Borrower:
                        MSS-Delaware, Inc.
                        11 Penn Plaza
                        New York, New York 10001
                        Attention   :  Julian R. Geiger
                        Fax         : (212) 494-6818

      With a copy to:
                        Kirkland & Ellis
                        655 Fifteenth Street, N.W.
                        Washington, D.C. 20005
                        Attention   :  Richard L. Perkal, Esquire
                        Fax:        :  (202) 879-5200

      12-2. Notice Given.

            (a) Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, notices shall
be deemed made and correspondence received, as follows (all times being local to
the place of delivery or receipt):

                  (i) By mail: the sooner of when actually received or Three (3)
      days following deposit in the United States mail, postage prepaid.

                  (ii)  By recognized overnight express delivery: the
      Business Day following the day when sent.

                                       92
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

                  (iii) By Hand: If delivered on a Business Day after 9:00 AM
      and no later than Three (3) hours prior to the close of customary business
      hours of the recipient, when delivered. Otherwise, at the opening of the
      then next Business Day.

                  (iv) By Facsimile transmission (which must include a header on
      which the party sending such transmission is indicated): If sent on a
      Business Day after 9:00 AM and no later than Three (3) hours prior to the
      close of customary business hours of the recipient, one (1) hour after
      being sent. Otherwise, at the opening of the then next Business Day.

            (b) Rejection or refusal to accept delivery and inability to deliver
because of a changed address or Facsimile Number for which no due notice was
given shall each be deemed receipt of the notice sent.

ARTICLE 13 - TERM:

      13-1. Termination of Revolving Credit. The Revolving Credit shall remain
in effect (subject to suspension as provided in Section 2-5(h) hereof) until the
Termination Date.

      13-2. Effect of Termination. On the Termination Date, the Borrower shall
pay the Agent (whether or not then due), in immediately available funds, all
then Liabilities (other than indemnities, not then due and payable, which
survive repayment of the Revolving Credit Loans and L/Cs and termination of the
Commitments), including, without limitation: the entire balance of the Loan
Account; any then remaining installments of the Commitment Fee; any then
remaining balance of the Facility Fee; any accrued and unpaid Line Fee; any
payments due on account of the indemnification obligations included in Section
2-9(e); and all unreimbursed costs and expenses of the Agent and of each Lender
for which the Borrower is responsible; and shall make such arrangements
concerning any L/C's then outstanding are reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.
Until such payment, all provisions of this Agreement, other than those contained
in Article 2 which place an obligation on the Agent and any Lender to make any
loans or advances or to provide financial accommodations under the Revolving
Credit or otherwise, shall remain in full force and effect until all Liabilities
(other than indemnities, not then due and payable, which survive repayment of
the Revolving Credit Loans and L/Cs and termination of the Commitments) shall
have been paid in full. The release by the Agent of the security and other
collateral interests granted the Agent by the Borrower hereunder may be upon
such conditions and indemnifications as the Agent may reasonably require to
protect the Agent and the Lenders against and chargebacks, credits, returned
items and any other

                                       93
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

reversal of payments which had been received by the Agent and the Lender and
applied toward such Liabilities.

ARTICLE 14 - GENERAL:

      14-1. Protection of Collateral. The Agent has no duty as to the collection
or protection of the Collateral beyond the safe custody of such of the
Collateral as may come into the possession of the Agent and shall have no duty
as to the preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights
pertaining thereto. With the Borrower's prior approval (which shall not be
unreasonably delayed or withheld), the Agent may include reference to the
Borrower (and may utilize any logo or other distinctive symbol associated with
the Borrower) in connection with any advertising, promotion, or marketing
undertaken by the Agent.

      14-2. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
Borrower and the Borrower's representatives, successors, and assigns and shall
enure to the benefit of the Agent and each Lender and the respective successors
and assigns of each provided, however, no trustee or other fiduciary appointed
with respect to the Borrower shall have any rights hereunder. In the event that
the Agent or any Lender, in accordance with the provisions of Section 2-23
hereof, assigns or transfers its rights under this Agreement, the assignee shall
thereupon succeed to and become vested with all rights, powers, privileges, and
duties of such assignor hereunder and such assignor shall thereupon be
discharged and relieved from its duties and obligations hereunder.

      14-3. Severability. Any determination that any provision of this Agreement
or any application thereof is invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect
in any instance shall not affect the validity, legality, or enforceability of
such provision in any other instance, or the validity, legality, or
enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement.

      14-4. Amendments.  Course of Dealing.

            (a) This Agreement and the other Loan Documents incorporate all
discussions and negotiations between the Borrower and the Agent and each Lender,
either express or implied, concerning the matters included herein and in such
other instruments, any custom, usage, or course of dealings to the contrary
notwithstanding. No such discussions, negotiations, custom, usage, or course of
dealings shall limit, modify, or otherwise affect the provisions thereof. No
failure by the Agent or any Lender to give notice to the Borrower of the
Borrower's having failed to observe and comply with any warranty or covenant
included in any Loan Document shall constitute a waiver of such warranty or
covenant or the amendment of the subject Loan

                                       94
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

Document. No change made by the Agent in the manner by which Availability is
determined shall obligate the Agent to continue to determine Availability in
that manner.

            (b) The Borrower may undertake any action otherwise prohibited
hereby, and may omit to take any action otherwise required hereby, upon and with
the express prior written consent of the Agent. No consent, modification,
amendment, or waiver of any provision of any Loan Document shall be effective
unless executed in writing by or on behalf of the party to be charged with such
modification, amendment, or waiver (and if such party is the Agent, then by a
duly authorized officer thereof). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower
recognizes that the Agent's right to undertake any of the actions described in
this Section 14-4(b) is subject to the voting rights provisions of the Agency
Agreement among the Agent and the Lenders, as more specifically described in
EXHIBIT 2-22. Any modification, amendment, or waiver provided by the Agent shall
be in reliance upon all representations and warranties theretofore made to the
Agent by or on behalf of the Borrower (and any guarantor, endorser, or surety of
the Liabilities) and consequently may be rescinded in the event that any of such
representations or warranties was not true and complete in all material respects
when given.

      14-5. Power of Attorney. In connection with all powers of attorney
included in this Agreement, the Borrower hereby grants unto the Agent full power
to do any and all things necessary or appropriate in connection with the
exercise of such powers as fully and effectually as the Borrower might or could
do, hereby ratifying all that said attorney shall do or cause to be done by
virtue of this Agreement. No power of attorney set forth in this Agreement shall
be affected by any disability or incapacity suffered by the Borrower and each
shall survive the same. All powers conferred upon the Agent by this Agreement,
being coupled with an interest, shall be irrevocable until this Agreement is
terminated by a written instrument executed by a duly authorized officer of the
Agent.

      14-6. Application of Proceeds. Except as otherwise provided in Section
11-2(e) hereof, the proceeds of any collection, sale, or disposition of the
Collateral, or of any other payments received hereunder, shall be applied
towards the Liabilities in such order and manner as the Agent determines in its
sole discretion. The Borrower shall remain liable for any deficiency remaining
following such application.

      14-7. Costs and Expenses of Agent and Of Lenders.

            (a) The Borrower shall pay on demand all Costs of Collection and all
reasonable expenses of the Agent in connection with the preparation, execution,
and delivery of this Agreement and of any other Loan Documents, whether now
existing or

                                       95
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

hereafter arising, and all other reasonable expenses which may be incurred by
the Agent in preparing or amending this Agreement and all other agreements,
instruments, and documents related thereto, or otherwise incurred with respect
to the Liabilities, all out- of-pocket costs incurred in syndicating the credit
facility, and all other costs and expenses of the Agent which relate to the
credit facility contemplated hereby.

            (b) The Borrower shall pay on demand all costs and expenses
(including attorneys' reasonable fees) incurred, following the occurrence, and
during the continuance, of any Event of Default, by each Lender in connection
with the enforcement, attempted enforcement, or preservation of any rights and
remedies under this, or any other Loan Document, as well as any such costs and
expenses in connection with any "workout", forbearance, or restructuring of the
credit facility contemplated hereby.

            (c) The Borrower authorizes the Agent to pay all such fees and
expenses and in the Agent's discretion, to add such fees and expenses to the
Loan Account.

            (d) The undertaking on the part of the Borrower in this Section 14-7
shall survive payment of the Liabilities and/or any termination, release, or
discharge executed by the Agent in favor of the Borrower, other than a
termination, release, or discharge which makes specific reference to this
Section 14-7.

      14-8. Copies and Facsimiles. This Agreement and all documents which relate
thereto, which have been or may be hereinafter furnished the Agent or any Lender
may be reproduced by that Person or by the Agent by any photographic, microfilm,
xerographic, digital imaging, or other process, and that Person may destroy any
document so reproduced. Any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as
the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding (whether or not
the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made in
the regular course of business). Any facsimile which bears proof of transmission
shall be binding on the party which or on whose behalf such transmission was
initiated and likewise shall be so admissible in evidence as if the original of
such facsimile had been delivered to the party which or on whose behalf such
transmission was received.

      14-9. Massachusetts Law. This Agreement and all rights and obligations
hereunder, including matters of construction, validity, and performance, shall
be governed by the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

                                       96
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

      14-10. Consent to Jurisdiction.

            (a) The Borrower agrees that any legal action, proceeding, case, or
controversy against the Borrower with respect to any Loan Document may be
brought in the Superior Court of Suffolk County Massachusetts or in the United
States District Court, District of Massachusetts, sitting in Boston,
Massachusetts, as the Agent may elect in the Agent's sole discretion. By
execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Borrower, for itself and in
respect of its property, accepts, submits, and consents generally and
unconditionally, to the non- exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts.

            (b) The Borrower WAIVES personal service of any and all process upon
it, and irrevocably consents to the service of process out of any of the
aforementioned courts in any such action or proceeding by the mailing of copies
thereof by certified mail, postage prepaid, to the Borrower at the Borrower's
address for notices as specified herein, such service to become effective ten
(10) Business Days after such mailing.

            (c) The Borrower WAIVES any objection based on forum non conveniens
and any objection to venue of any action or proceeding instituted in the
aforesaid courts under any of the Loan Documents.

            (d) Nothing herein shall affect the right of the Agent to bring
legal actions or proceedings in any other competent jurisdiction.

            (e) The Borrower agrees that any action commenced by the Borrower
asserting any claim or counterclaim arising under or in connection with this
Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be brought solely in the Superior
Court of Suffolk County Massachusetts or in the United States District Court,
District of Massachusetts, sitting in Boston, Massachusetts, and that such
Courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction with respect to any such action.

      14-11. Indemnification. The Borrower shall indemnify, defend, and hold the
Agent and each Lender and any employee, officer, or agent of any of the
foregoing (each, an "INDEMNIFIED PERSON") harmless of and from any claim brought
or threatened against any Indemnified Person by the Borrower, any guarantor or
endorser of the Liabilities, or any other Person (as well as from attorneys'
reasonable fees and expenses in connection therewith) on account of the
relationship of the Borrower or of any other guarantor or endorser of the
Liabilities with the Agent, or any Lender (each, an "Indemnified Claim") other
than any claim resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such
Indemnified Person. Each Indemnified Claim may be defended, compromised,
settled, or pursued by the Indemnified Person with

                                       97
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

counsel of the Agent's selection (and if such Indemnified Claim is brought by a
Person other than the Borrower, any guarantor or endorser of the Liabilities or
any Affiliate of the Borrower, after consultation with (but not approval of) the
Borrower regarding the selection of such counsel), but at the expense of the
Borrower, provided that any Indemnified Claim may not be settled without the
consent of the Borrower (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) if
as the result of any such settlement the Borrower will be obligated to make any
payment (other than reimbursement of the reasonable costs and expenses of the
Indemnified Person). This indemnification shall survive payment of the
Liabilities and/or any termination, release, or discharge executed by the Agent
in favor of the Borrower, other than a termination, release, or discharge which
makes specific reference to this Section 14-11.

      14-12. Rules of Construction. The following rules of construction shall be
applied in the interpretation, construction, and enforcement of this Agreement
and of the other Loan Documents:

            (a) Words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural
include the singular.

            (b) Titles, headings (indicated by being underlined or shown in
Small Capitals) and any Table of Contents are solely for convenience of
reference; do not constitute a part of the instrument in which included; and do
not affect such instrument's meaning, construction, or effect.

            (c) The words "includes" and "including" are not limiting.

            (d) Text which follows the words "including, without limitation" (or
similar words) is illustrative and not limitational.

            (e) Except where the context otherwise requires or where the
relevant subsections are joined by "or", compliance with any Section or
provision of any Loan Document which constitutes a warranty or covenant requires
compliance with all subsections (if any) of that Section or provision. Except
where the context otherwise requires, compliance with any warranty or covenant
of any Loan Document which includes subsections which are joined by "or" may be
accomplished by compliance with any of such subsections.

            (f) Text which is shown in italics, shown in BOLD, shown IN ALL
CAPITAL LETTERS, or in any combination of the foregoing, shall be deemed to be
conspicuous.

                                       98
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

            (g) The words "may not" are prohibitive and not permissive.

            (h) The word "or" is not exclusive.

            (i) Terms which are defined in one section of any Loan Document are
used with such definition throughout the instrument in which so defined.

            (j) The symbol "$" refers to United States Dollars.

            (k) Unless limited by reference to a particular Section or
provision, any reference to "herein", "hereof", or "within" is to the entire
Loan Document in which such reference is made.

            (l) References to "this Agreement" or to any other Loan Document is
to the subject instrument as amended to the date on which application of such
reference is being made.

            (m) Except as otherwise specifically provided, all references to
time are to Boston time.

            (n) In the determination of any notice, grace, or other period of
time prescribed or allowed hereunder:

                  (i) Unless otherwise provided (I) the day of the act, event,
      or default from which the designated period of time begins to run shall
      not be included and the last day of the period so computed shall be
      included unless such last day is not a Business Day, in which event the
      last day of the relevant period shall be the then next Business Day and
      (II) the period so computed shall end at 5:00 PM on the relevant Business
      Day.

                  (ii) The word "from" means "from and including".

                  (iii) The words "to" and "until" each mean "to, but
      excluding".

                  (iv) The word "through" means "to and including".

            (o) References to "presently", "currently", "effective date of this
Agreement", and other similar expressions mean the date of this Agreement.

            (p) The term "upon the occurrence, and during the continuance, of an
Event of Default", "upon the occurrence, and during the continuance, of Default
Interest Event" and any other similar term means the occurrence of an Event of
Default or a Default Interest Event which has not been (i) waived by the Agent
and the Lenders, or (ii) resolved to the reasonable satisfaction

                                       99
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

of the Agent. For purposes hereof, an Event of Default shall be deemed "resolved
to the reasonable satisfaction of the Agent" if (A) the Agent and the Lenders
have not theretofore exercised any of their rights and remedies on account of
the existence of such Event of Default, and (B) the matter giving rise to such
Event of Default has been fully remediated by the Borrower, provided, however,
that (1) nothing contained herein shall furnish the Borrower with any additional
cure periods beyond those set forth in Article 10, if any, prior to an event
constituting an "Event of Default", (2) notwithstanding the foregoing, any Event
of Default under Sections 5-12, Article 7, or Sections 10-1, 10-2, 10-11, or
10-12 hereof may only be waived by the Agent and the Lenders and shall not ever
be deemed "resolved to the reasonable satisfaction of the Agent", and (3) the
Borrower may not resolve any occurrences which constitute Events of Default to
the reasonable satisfaction of the Agent on more than four (4) occasions in any
fiscal year.

            (q) The Loan Documents shall be construed and interpreted in a
harmonious manner and in keeping with the intentions set forth in Section 14-13
hereof, provided, however, in the event of any inconsistency between the
provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document, the provisions of this
Agreement shall govern and control.

      14-13. Intent. It is intended that:

            (a) This Agreement take effect as a sealed instrument.

            (b) The scope of the security interests created by this Agreement be
broadly construed in favor of the Agent.

            (c) The security interests created by this Agreement secure all
Liabilities, whether now existing or hereafter arising.

            (d) All reasonable costs and expenses (other than overhead costs)
incurred by the Agent and, to the extent provide in Section 14-7, each Lender in
connection with such Person's relationship(s) with the Borrower shall be borne
by the Borrower.

            (e) Unless otherwise explicitly provided herein, the Agent's consent
to any action of the Borrower which is prohibited unless such consent is given
may be given or refused by the Agent in its reasonable discretion and without
reference to Section 2- 16 hereof.

      14-14. Right of Set-Off. Any and all deposits (other than Trust Deposit
Accounts) or other sums at any time credited by or due to the Borrower from the
Agent, any Lender, or any participant (a "PARTICIPANT") in the credit facility
contemplated hereby or any from any Affiliate of the Agent, any Lender, or any

                                       100
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

Participant and any cash, securities, instruments or other property of the
Borrower in the possession of the Agent, any Lender, any Participant or any such
Affiliate, whether for safekeeping or otherwise (regardless of the reason such
Person had received the same) shall at all times constitute security for all
Liabilities and for any and all obligations of the Borrower to the Agent and
each Lender or any Participant or any such Affiliate and may be applied or set
off against the Liabilities and against such obligations at any time, whether or
not such are then due and whether or not other collateral is then available to
the Agent, any Lender, or any Participant or any such Affiliate.

      14-15. Maximum Interest Rate. Regardless of any provision of any Loan
Document, none of the Agent or any Lender shall be entitled to contract for,
charge, receive, collect, or apply as interest on any Liability, any amount in
excess of the maximum rate imposed by applicable law. Any payment which is made
which, if treated as interest on a Liability would result in such interest's
exceeding such maximum rate shall be held, to the extent of such excess, as
additional collateral for the Liabilities as if such excess were "Collateral."

      14-16. Waivers.

            (a) The Borrower (and all guarantors, endorsers, and sureties of the
Liabilities) make each of the waivers included in Section 14-16(b), below,
knowingly, voluntarily, and intentionally, and understands that the Agent and
each Lender, in entering into the financial arrangements contemplated hereby and
in providing loans and other financial accommodations to or for the account of
the Borrower as provided herein, whether not or in the future, is relying on
such waivers.

            (b) THE BORROWER, AND EACH SUCH GUARANTOR, ENDORSER, AND SURETY
RESPECTIVELY WAIVES THE FOLLOWING:

                  (i) Except as otherwise specifically required hereby, and to
      the extent permissible under applicable law, notice of non-payment,
      demand, presentment, protest and all forms of demand and notice, both with
      respect to the Liabilities and the Collateral.

                  (ii) Except as otherwise specifically required hereby, and to
      the extent permissible under applicable law, the right to notice and/or
      hearing prior to the Agent's exercising of the Agent's rights upon
      default.

                  (iii) THE RIGHT TO A JURY IN ANY TRIAL OF ANY CASE OR
      CONTROVERSY IN WHICH THE AGENT OR ANY LENDER IS OR BECOMES A PARTY
      (WHETHER SUCH CASE OR CONTROVERSY IS INITIATED BY OR AGAINST THE AGENT OR
      ANY LENDER OR IN WHICH THE AGENT OR ANY LENDER IS JOINED AS A PARTY
      LITIGANT),

                                       101
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

      WHICH CASE OR CONTROVERSY ARISES OUT OF OR IS IN RESPECT OF, ANY
      RELATIONSHIP AMONGST OR BETWEEN THE BORROWER OR ANY OTHER PERSON AND THE
      AGENT OR ANY LENDER (AND THE AGENT AND EACH LENDER LIKEWISE WAIVES THE
      RIGHT TO A JURY IN ANY TRIAL OF ANY SUCH CASE OR CONTROVERSY).

                  (iv) Except to the extent that such may not be waived under
      applicable law, the benefits or availability of any stay, limitation,
      hindrance, delay, or restriction with respect to any action which the
      Agent may or may become entitled to take hereunder.

                  (v) Any defense, counterclaim, set-off, recoupment, or other
      basis on which the amount of any Liability, as stated on the books and
      records of the Agent or any Lender, could be reduced or claimed to be paid
      otherwise than in accordance with the tenor of and written terms of such
      Liability.

                  (vi) Any claim against the Agent or any Lender to
      consequential, special, or punitive damages.

      14-17. Confidentiality. The Agent and each Lender shall keep, and shall
cause its officers, directors, employees, affiliates and attorneys to keep, all
financial statements, reports and other proprietary information furnished to it
by the Borrower (hereinafter collectively, the "Information") confidential and
shall not disclose such Information, or cause such Information to be disclosed,
to any Person, provided, however, that (i) the Information may be disclosed to
the Agent's and each Lender's officers, directors, employees, affiliates,
attorneys and other advisors as need to know the Information in connection with
the Agent's and each Lender's administration of the Liabilities; (ii) the
Information may be disclosed to any regulatory or other governmental authorities
having jurisdiction over the Agent or any Lender as required in connection with
the exercise of their regulatory activity; (iii) the Information may be
disclosed to any prospective Assignee or Participant, who has agreed to be bound
by the provisions of this Section 14-17; (iv) the Information may be disclosed
in connection with the enforcement of the Liabilities by the Agent or any Lender
to the

                                       102
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

extent required in connection therewith; and (v) the Information may otherwise
be disclosed to the extent required by law.

                                                            MSS-DELAWARE, INC.
                                                                  ("BORROWER")

                                           By  /s/ John S. Mills
                                               _________________________________

                                   Print Name:  John S. Mills
                                               ________________________________

                                        Title:  SVP CFO
                                               ________________________________

                                                BANKBOSTON RETAIL FINANCE INC.
                                                                     ("AGENT")

                                           By  /s/ Daniel J. Williams
                                              _________________________________

                                   Print Name:  Daniel J. Williams
                                               ________________________________

                                        Title:  Loan Officer
                                               ________________________________

                                 The "LENDERS"

                                           BANKBOSTON RETAIL FINANCE INC.

                                           By  /s/ Daniel J. Williams
                                               _______________________________

                                   Print Name:  Daniel J. Williams
                                               ________________________________

                                        Title:  Loan Officer
                                                ________________________________

                                           IBJ SCHRODER BUSINESS CREDIT
                                           CORPORATION

                                           By  /s/ Thomas M. Bayer
                                               _________________________________

                                   Print Name:  Thomas M. Bayer
                                                ________________________________

                                        Title:  Senior Vice President
                                                ________________________________

                                       103<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.5

                 FIRST AMENDMENT TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

         This First Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement (the "First
Amendment") is made as of this 8th day of November, 1999 by and between

         BankBoston Retail Finance Inc. (the "Agent"), a Delaware corporation
with its principal executive offices at 40 Broad Street, Boston, Massachusetts)
for the Lenders party to the Agreement (defined below), and

         The Lenders party to the Agreement (defined below), and

         MSS Delaware, Inc. (the "Borrower"), a Delaware corporation with its
principal executive offices at 11 Penn Plaza, New York, New York 10001

in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained and benefits to be
derived herefrom.

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, on July 31, 1998 the Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower
entered in a certain Loan and Security Agreement (the "Agreement"); and

         WHEREAS, the Borrower desires to purchase from Federated Specialty
Stores, Inc. 6,000 shares of the Borrower's 6% Series A Exchangeable Redeemable
Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share for an aggregate purchase price of
$5,000,000.00 (the "Repurchase"); and

         WHEREAS, the Repurchase is prohibited under the terms of the Agreement
and the Borrower has requested that the Agent and the Lenders consent thereto;
and

         WHEREAS, the Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower desire to modify
certain other provisions of the Agreement as set forth herein.

         NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby agreed among the Agent, the Lenders and
the Borrower as follows:

         1.       Capitalized Terms. All capitalized terms used herein and not
                  otherwise defined shall have the same meaning herein as in the
                  Agreement.

         2.       Amendments to Article 4. The provisions of Section 4-18 of the
                  Agreement are hereby amended as follows:
<PAGE>
                  (a)      The provisions of Section 4-18(a)(i) of the Agreement
                           are hereby deleted in their entirety.

                  (b)      The provisions of Section 4-18(a)(iii) are hereby
                           amended to delete all references to Series A of the
                           Preferred Stock, it being agreed that no dividends
                           will be paid thereon.

         3.       Amendment to Financial Performance Covenants. The provisions
                  of Paragraph 2 of Exhibit 5-12(a) to the Agreement are hereby
                  amended by adding the following at the end thereof:

                           For purposes of calculating Capital Expenditures
                           hereunder, there shall not be included any Capital
                           Expenditures for which the Borrower's landlords have
                           furnished the Borrower with an allowance or credit
                           therefor or which are otherwise payable by such
                           landlords.

         4.       Consent and Waiver. The Agent and the Lenders hereby consent
                  to the Repurchase and waive any Event of Default arising
                  therefrom under Section 4-18(b) of the Agreement. This consent
                  and waiver relates only to the Repurchase and is not intended
                  to modify or waive the provisions of Section 4-18(b) with
                  respect to any other transaction nor is it intended to modify
                  or waive any other provision of the Agreement or any other
                  Loan Document.

         5.       Ratification of Loan Documents. Except as provided herein, all
                  terms and conditions of the Agreement and of the other Loan
                  Documents remain in full force and effect. Furthermore, except
                  as provided herein, all warranties and representations made in
                  the Agreement and in the other Loan Documents remain in full
                  force and effect.

         6.       Miscellaneous.

                           (a) This First Amendment may be executed in several
                  counterparts and by each party on a separate counterpart, each
                  of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original,
                  and all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

                           (c) This First Amendment expresses the entire
                  understanding of the parties with respect to the transactions
                  contemplated hereby. No prior negotiations or discussions
                  shall limit, modify, or otherwise affect the provisions
                  hereof.

                                        2
<PAGE>
                           (d) Any determination that any provision of this
                  First Amendment or any application hereof is invalid, illegal
                  or unenforceable in any respect and in any instance shall not
                  effect the validity, legality, or enforceability of such
                  provision in any other instance, or the validity, legality or
                  enforceability of any other provisions of this First
                  Amendment.

                           (e) The Borrower shall pay on demand all costs and
                  expenses of the Agent, including, without limitation,
                  reasonable attorneys' fees in connection with the preparation,
                  negotiation, execution and delivery of this First Amendment.

                           (f) The Borrower warrants and represents that the
                  Borrower has consulted with independent legal counsel of the
                  Borrower's selection in connection with this First Amendment
                  and is not relying on any representations or warranties of any
                  Lender or the Agent or their respective counsel in entering
                  into this First Amendment.

                           (g) The Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the
                  Borrower does not have any claims, counterclaims, offsets, or
                  defenses against any Lender or the Agent directly or
                  indirectly relating to the Borrower's relationship with,
                  and/or the Borrower's Liabilities, and to the extent that the
                  Borrower has or ever had any such claims, counterclaims,
                  offsets, or defenses against any of the Lenders or the Agent,
                  the Borrower affirmatively WAIVES the same. The Borrower, and
                  for its representatives, successors and assigns, hereby
                  RELEASES, and forever discharges the Lenders and the Agent and
                  their respective officers, directors, agents, servants,
                  attorneys, and employees, and their respective
                  representatives, successors and assigns, of, to, and from all
                  known debts, demands, actions, suits, accounts, covenants,
                  contracts, agreements, damages, and any and all claims,
                  demands, or liabilities whatsoever, of every name and nature,
                  both at law and in equity, from the beginning of the world
                  through the date hereof.

                                        3
<PAGE>
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have hereunto caused this First
Amendment to be executed and their seals to be hereto affixed as of the date
first above written.

                                      MSS DELAWARE, INC.
                                                   ("Borrower")

                                   By:  /s/ John S. Mills
                                      ------------------------------------------

                                   Name:  John S. Mills
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                   Title:  Executive VP, Chief Operating Officer
                                         ---------------------------------------

                                   BANKBOSTON RETAIL FINANCE INC.
                                                 ("Agent")

                                   By:  /s/ Betsy Ratto
                                      ------------------------------------------

                                   Name:  Betsy Ratto
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                   Title:  Vice President
                                         ---------------------------------------

                                   The "Lenders"

                                   BANKBOSTON RETAIL FINANCE INC.

                                   By:  /s/ Robert DeAmato
                                      ------------------------------------------

                                   Name:  Robert DeAmato
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                   Title:  Senior Vice President
                                         ---------------------------------------

                                   IBJ SCHRODER BUSINESS CREDIT
                                   CORPORATION

                                   By:
                                      ------------------------------------------

                                   Name:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                   Title:
                                         ---------------------------------------

                                        4

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