"They 're not expensive, Dearie." "But have you any idea how much?" he insisted. "Four dollars ought to cover that." "By gosh! Well, I guess that's all," he said quietly. Just then he glanced down at his shoes. "It is n't necessary to have patent leathers, too?" he appealed. "It's customary, Dearie, but not absolutely necessary." "People don't see your feet in a reception like that," he urged. Honey smiled. "They might without difficulty, Dearie, if you chanced to walk across the floor in some vacant space. Remember, you're not in the subway where everybody stands on them and hides them." "Don't be funny," said Skinner. "Mine are only in proportion. How much? That's the question, while we're at it--how much?" "You know the price of men's shoes better than I do, Dearie." "I saw some patent leathers on Cortlandt Street at three dollars and a half." "Those were n't patent leathers--only pasteboard. They'd fall to pieces if the night happened to be moist. And you'd reach the party barefooted. Think of it, Dearie, going in with a dress suit on and bare feet!" Her giggle irritated Skinner. "It may be very funny to you but--how much? That's the question!" "Not more than six dollars for the best." "I see," said Skinner, making an effort to be calm. "Silk hosiery?" "A dollar will cover socks and garters both." "Garters?" Skinner snapped. "Garters are a luxury. Besides, I never had any success with garters. Safety pins for mine." "My Dearie a safety-pin man--in a dress suit--not much!" "Thank goodness, I don't have to have a high hat!" "If there's anything that's really funny," Honey observed, "it's the combination of a fine dress suit and a cheap hat. Six dollars will cover that." "That's a darned sight more than the hat'll cover if I don't stop spending money! But why a hat, anyway?" he continued; "you don't wear it in the house. That's the only time your dress suit shows. When you're out of doors you wear it under an overcoat." He paused abruptly. "An overcoat! Great Scott! Have I got to have a new overcoat?" "You seem to _think_ you have, and, honestly, I agree with you. It would never do, Dearie, to be fine at both ends and shabby in the middle." Skinner grunted. "An overcoat will cost forty dollars! Do you hear?--forty dollars!" "I did n't say anything about an overcoat, Dearie. It's your own suggestion." "You did n't say anything about it--oh, no--you only said enough to cinch my suggestion! Forty dollars," he repeated, "and a hat--six dollars more! Well, by thunder, I 'll _get_ a hat! Gee whiz! What have you let me in for, anyway?" "_I_ let you in for, Dearie?" Honey's baby-blue eyes stared at him. "You let _yourself_ in for it when you got your raise."