appointments. Her trousseau was long since exhausted, and she rarely had
a new dress. But slovenly she could not be.

It was the matter of a new dress which was now indeed running in her
mind. She took up Lady Dunstable's letter, and read it pensively through
again.

"You can accept for yourself, Arthur, of course," she said, looking up.
"But I can't possibly go."

Meadows protested loudly.

"You have no excuse at all!" he declared hotly. "Lady Dunstable has
given us a month's notice. You _can't_ get out of it. Do you want me to
be known as a man who accepts smart invitations without his wife? There
is no more caddish creature in the world."

Doris could not help smiling upon him. But her mouth was none the less
determined.

"I haven't got a single frock that's fit for Crosby Ledgers. And I'm not
going on tick for a new one!"

"I never heard anything so absurd! Shan't we have more money in a few
weeks than we've had for years?"

"I dare say. It's all wanted. Besides, I have my work to finish."

"My dear Doris!"