t give it to him.

"I'm afraid you'll think it awfully high, Conrad," she said, in a
deprecating tone. "You see it has been running a long time--since the
Christmas before dear Edward's death, in fact. I have paid Theodore
sums on account in the meanwhile, but those seem to go for very little
against the total of her bill. She is expensive, of course. All the
West End milliners are; but her style is undeniable, and she is in
direct association with Worth."

"My dear Pamela, I did not ask you for her biography, I asked only for
her bill. Pray let me see the total, and tell me if you have any
objections to make against the items."

"No," sighed Mrs. Winstanley, bending over the document with a
perplexed brow, "I believe--indeed, I am sure--I have had all the
things. Many of them are dearer than I expected; but there is no rule
as to the price of anything thoroughly Parisian, that has not been seen
in London. One has to pay for style and originality. I hope you won't
be vexed at having to write so large a cheque, Conrad, at a time when
you are so anxious to save money. Next year I shall try my best to
economise."

"My dearest Pamela, why beat about the bush? The bill must be paid,
whatever its amount. I suppose a hundred pounds will cover it?"

"Oh, Conrad, when many women give a hundred pounds for a single dress!"

"When they do I should say that Bedlam must be their natural and
fitting abode," retorted the Captain, with suppressed ire. "The bill is
more than a hundred then? Pray give it me, Pamela, and make an end of
this foolishness."

This time Captain Winstanley went over to his wife, and took the paper
out of her hand. He had not seen the total, but he was white with rage
already. He had made up his mind to squeeze a small fortune out of the
Abbey House estate during his brief lease of the property; and here was
this foolish wife of his squandering hundreds upon finery.

"Be kind enough to pour me out a cup of coffee," he said, resuming his
seat, and deliberately spreading out the bill.

"Great Heaven!" he cried, after a glance at the total. "This is too
preposterous. The woman must be mad."

The total was seventeen hundred and sixty-four pounds fourteen and
sixpence. Mrs. Winstanley's payments on account amounted to four
hundred pounds; leaving a balance of thirteen hundred and sixty-four
pounds for the Captain to liquidate.

"Indeed, dear Conrad, it is not such a very tremendous account,"
pleaded Pame