“No, no. He sent it with a most wonderful letter. Just a few lines--but--oh! To-morrow’s my birthday. He asked me to take this back for a birthday remembrance, because it was impossible for him to think of my hand without it. I was to think of it as his birthday message--and not as binding me to any promise given in the past. Just as if I don’t want to be bound!” She pressed the stone against her lips. Mrs. Larry laughed a trifle uncertainly. “A man’s way of admitting he was wrong and saying he’s sorry.” “But why do you suppose he did it? How did he know that I wouldn’t send it straight back to him?” “Oh, a man will usually take a chance--and he loves you, which is the most important thing, after all,” affirmed Mrs. Larry, as she recalled certain letters in the farthest drawer of Aunt Abigail’s old secretary. “Do you think you’ll be able to do some investigating with me to-morrow? I want to look into the cost of groceries, but, perhaps after the dance, you’ll be too tired----” “Tired? I don’t think I can ever be tired again. And I’ll be here at eight in the morning.” “No, you won’t,” said Mrs. Larry positively. “I can’t be ready that early. Make it nine.” “All right,” said Claire, as she drew her wrap over her shoulders. Then she kissed Mrs. Larry good night--and flitted off. CHAPTER VII “_Ignorance in the housewife causes dishonest prices in the grocery._”--H. C. OF L. PROVERB NO. 7. Mrs. Larry and Claire really meant to be on their way to Dorlon’s by nine o’clock, but there were various delays. Lisbeth, coquetting in her bath, lured them for ten minutes. Mrs. Larry recalled that she must telephone her dressmaker. Claire remembered an unacknowledged dinner invitation and stopped to dash off a note. It was ten o’clock when their adventure in thrift landed them at Dorlon’s high-class grocery store. Mr. Benton, the suave manager of the store, recognizing Mrs. Larry as a customer in good standing, looked a trifle anxious as he rose at his desk to receive them. What employee had been remiss, he wondered? Or had the cashier made a mistake? For truly the pathway of a store manager is strewn with complaints! Mrs. Larry flung him one of her prettiest smiles and plunged into the subject of their call. “I don’t suppose it’s good business to tell your customers how to spend less money, but that is exactly what I have come for,” she explained. “I have just wakened to the realization that while I am head of the purchasing department in our home, I know very little about food values. And I want to know more about the goods I buy in your store--how I can buy to best advantage. Would you mind giving me some pointers?” Mr. Benton was plainly relieved.