minine dress was giving place rapidly to
a knowledge which he thought profound--and it was profound,
for a man. She would not permit him to go with her to order,
however, or to fittings. All she would tell him in advance
about this first dress was that it was for evening wear and
that its color was green. "But not a greeny green," said she.

"I understand. A green something like the tint in your skin
at the nape of your neck."

"Perhaps," admitted she. "Yes."

"We'll go to the opera the evening it comes home. I'll have
my new evening outfit from Charvet's by that time."

It was about ten days after this conversation that she told
him she had had a final fitting, had ordered the dress sent
home. He was instantly all excitement and rushed away to
engage a good box for the opera. With her assistance he had
got evening clothes that sent through his whole being a glow
of self-confidence--for he knew that in those clothes, he
looked what he was striving to be. They were to dine at
seven. He dressed early and went into their sitting-room.
He was afraid he would spoil his pleasure of complete surprise
by catching a glimpse of the _grande toilette_ before it was
finished. At a quarter past seven Susan put her head into the
sitting-room--only her head. At sight of his anxious face,
his tense manner, she burst out laughing. It seemed, and was,
grotesque that one so imperturbable of surface should be so upset.

"Can you stand the strain another quarter of an hour?" said she.

"Don't hurry," he urged. "Take all the time you want. Do the
thing up right." He rose and came toward her with one hand
behind him. "You said the dress was green, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"Well--here's something you may be able to fit in somewhere."
And he brought the concealed hand into view and held a jewel
box toward her.

She reached a bare arm through the crack in the door and took
it. The box, the arm, the head disappeared. Presently there
was a low cry of delight that thrilled him. The face
reappeared. "Oh--Freddie!" she exclaimed, radiant. "You must
have spent a fortune on them."

"No. Twelve thousand--that's all. It was a bargain. Go on
dressing. We'll talk about it afterward." And he gently
pushed her head back--getting a kiss in the palm of his
hand--and drew the door to.

Ten minutes later the door opened part way again. "Brace
yourself," she called laughingly. "I'm coming."

A breathless pause and the d