uestion."

"But, Tony"--Juliet was whispering now with her head a little bent and her
eyes on the lapel of his coat--"won't you let me do it as my--my
contribution? I'd like to put something of my own into your house."

"You dear little girl," Anthony answered--and possibly for her own peace
of mind it was fortunate that Miss Langham, of California, could not see
the look with which he regarded Miss Marcy, of Massachusetts--"I'm sure
you would. And you are putting into it just what is priceless to me--your
individuality and your perfect taste. But I can't let even you help
furnish that house. She--must take what I--and only I--can give her."

"You're perfectly ridiculous," murmured Juliet, turning away with an
expression of deep displeasure. "As if she wouldn't bring all sorts of
elegant stuff with her, and make your cheap things look insignificant."

"I don't think she will," returned Anthony with conviction. "She'll bring
nothing out of keeping with the house."

"I thought you told me she was of a wealthy family."

"She is. But if she marries me she leaves all that behind. I'll have no
wife on any other basis."

"Well--for a son of the Robesons of Kentucky you are absolutely the most
absurd boy anybody ever heard of," declared the girl hotly under her
breath. Then she walked over and ordered a certain inexpensive rug for the
living-room with the air of a princess and the cheeks of a poppy.

IV.--THE COST OF FROCKS

It may have been that Miss Marcy was piqued into trying to see how little
she could spend, but certain it was that from the time she left the carpet
shop she begged for no exceptions to Mr. Robeson's rule of strict economy.
She selected simple, delicate muslins for the windows, one and all,
without a glance at finer draperies; bought denims and printed stuffs as
if she had never heard of costlier upholsteries; and turned away from
seductive pieces of Turkish and Indian embroideries offered for her
inspection with a demure, "No, I don't care to look at those now," which
more than once brought a covert smile to Anthony's lips and a twinkle to
the eyes of the salesman. It was so very evident that the fair buyer did
not pass them by for lack of interest.

Altogether, it was an interesting week these three people spent--for a
week it took. Anthony began to protest after the first two days, and said
he could not ask so much of his friends. But Juliet would not be hindered
from taking infinite pa