the house. That's the only time your dress suit shows. When
you're out of doors you wear it under an overcoat." He paused
abruptly. "An overcoat! Great Scott! Have I got to have a new
overcoat?"

"You seem to _think_ you have, and, honestly, I agree with you. It
would never do, Dearie, to be fine at both ends and shabby in the
middle."

Skinner grunted. "An overcoat will cost forty dollars! Do you
hear?--forty dollars!"

"I did n't say anything about an overcoat, Dearie. It's your own
suggestion."

"You did n't say anything about it--oh, no--you only said enough to
cinch my suggestion! Forty dollars," he repeated, "and a hat--six
dollars more! Well, by thunder, I 'll _get_ a hat! Gee whiz! What
have you let me in for, anyway?"

"_I_ let you in for, Dearie?" Honey's baby-blue eyes stared at him.
"You let _yourself_ in for it when you got your raise."

Skinner said nothing for a moment, then burst out, "Say, I have n't got
to get new underclothing, have I? Now, don't you even admit that I
have! Don't you dare admit it! People can't see my underclothes
unless I take my coat off and turn up my shirt-sleeves or roll up my
trousers as if I were going in wading."

"Of course, you have n't got to get new underclothes, Dearie. But
there's a psychology to it. If you don't _feel_ well dressed, you
won't _look_ well dressed. You don't want to be a fraud, with a
beautiful dress suit and cheap underneath--and my old Dearie's no
fraud."

Skinner passed quickly over the remark. "How much?"

"You can get the best for four dollars a garment."

"Gosh!"

For a moment Skinner pondered; then abruptly, "Say I 'll be hanged if I
don't buy new underclothes. For the first time in my life, I 'll be
well dressed all through--hide, hoofs, and horns!--socks, drawers,
undershirt, shoes, trousers, waistcoat, coat, hat, overcoat! Is there
anything else?" he shouted.

"Let me think."

"Yes, think hard!" Skinner retorted. "Don't leave a stone unturned to
make me the one, great, perfect tailor's model!"

"There are gloves and a monocle chain. You can get them both for three
dollars," Honey added sweetly, affecting not to notice Skinner's
reproachful irony.

"A monocle chain?" Skinner shouted. "What's that? Something to lead
me by? Am I going to be a monkey?"

"Don't be silly, Dearie!"

Skinner laughed with deep disgust. "Why be a 'piker,' Skinner? You
got your raise, did n't you? Damn you, you got y