at ease. Long since he had turned his poor,
misshapen back upon the very natural and legitimate desire for the happy
mingling of both sexes, but after Priscilla Glenn became his guest he
recognized the need of women friends in a sharp and painful manner. They
could have helped him so much; could have solved so many problems for him
and the girl; but as it was he had to do the best he could alone.

The hundred dollars, still to be repaid to Farwell, worked wonders in the
week following the arrival of the Beetle and the Butterfly, as Boswell
insisted upon calling himself and Priscilla. Having no power at court,
Boswell cast himself on the mercy of lesser folks and managed, by way of
secret nods and whispers, to gain the cooeperation of sympathetic-looking
shop girls in order to array Priscilla in garments that would secure her
and him from impudent stares and offensive leers. The evenings following
these shopping expeditions were devoted to "casting up accounts."
Priscilla was absolutely lacking in worldly wisdom, but she had a sense
of accuracy that drove Boswell to the outer edge of veracity. Never
having bought an article of clothing for herself, Priscilla attacked this
new problem with perfectly blank faith. Prices often surprised and
startled her by their smallness, but the results obtained were gloriously
gratifying.

"I can better understand the lure of the States now, Mr. Boswell," she
said one evening as the two sat in the library with the wind howling
down Boswell's exaggerations and the fire illuminating the girl's
face. "Kenmore prices were impossible, but one can go wild here for so
little. Just fancy! That whole beautiful suit for two dollars and
eighty-seven----"

"Eighty-nine!" Boswell severely broke in, shaking his pencil at her as he
sat perched, like a benign gargoyle, by his study table. "I'll not have
Farwell defrauded while he cannot protect his own interests."

"Two eighty-nine," Priscilla agreed, with a laugh so merry and carefree
that the listener dropped his tired eyes. "And how much does that leave
of the hundred, Mr. Boswell? I tremble when I think of the silk gown so
soft and pretty, the slippers and stockings to match, and the storm coat,
umbrella, heavy shoes, and--and--other things."

Boswell referred to his notes and long lines of figures.

"All told, and in round numbers, there are forty-seven dollars and three
cents left."

"It's marvellous! wonderful!" Priscilla exclaimed. "You a