ull of matter as The Home Book of Verse."

"I've had a stunning time," she said, patting Bock who stood at her
knee, imbibing the familiar and mysterious fragrance by which dogs
identify their human friends. "I haven't even heard of a book for
three weeks. I did stop in at the Old Angle Book Shop yesterday, just
to say hullo to Joe Jillings. He says all booksellers are crazy, but
that you are the craziest of the lot. He wants to know if you're
bankrupt yet."

Roger's slate-blue eyes twinkled. He hung up a cup in the china closet
and lit his pipe before replying.

"What did you say?"

"I said that our shop was haunted, and mustn't be supposed to come
under the usual conditions of the trade."

"Bully for you! And what did Joe say to that?"

"'Haunted by the nuts!'"

"Well," said Roger, "when literature goes bankrupt I'm willing to go
with it. Not till then. But by the way, we're going to be haunted by
a beauteous damsel pretty soon. You remember my telling you that Mr.
Chapman wants to send his daughter to work in the shop? Well, here's a
letter I had from him this morning."

He rummaged in his pocket, and produced the following, which Mrs.
Mifflin read:

DEAR MR. MIFFLIN,

I am so delighted that you and Mrs. Mifflin are willing to try the
experiment of taking my daughter as an apprentice. Titania is really a
very charming girl, and if only we can get some of the "finishing
school" nonsense out of her head she will make a fine woman. She has
had (it was my fault, not hers) the disadvantage of being brought up,
or rather brought down, by having every possible want and whim
gratified. Out of kindness for herself and her future husband, if she
should have one, I want her to learn a little about earning a living.
She is nearly nineteen, and I told her if she would try the bookshop
job for a while I would take her to Europe for a year afterward.

As I explained to you, I want her to think she is really earning her
way. Of course I don't want the routine to be too hard for her, but I
do want her to get some idea of what it means to face life on one's
own. If you will pay her ten dollars a week as a beginner, and deduct
her board from that, I will pay you twenty dollars a week, privately,
for your responsibility in caring for her and keeping your and Mrs.
Mifflin's friendly eyes on her. I'm coming round to the Corn Cob
meeting to-morrow night, and we can make the final arrangements.

Luckily, s