It was no doubt new experience to her. For Rollo began with soft merino and warm plaid pieces, choosing colours and qualities indeed with care, yet refusing the more costly stuffs which were offered. Except that he indulged himself and Primrose with a delicate gray camel's hair at last. At the silk counter he would not be tempted by the exquisite tender hues which the shopman suggested to his notice; no, he looked, and called for others, and finally bought a good dark green and a black, the mate to Mrs. Coles' black silk. At the glove counter he handed the matter over to Wych Hazel. She had watched all his proceedings with observant eyes, saying hardly a word, unless upon some point of quality where she knew best. Now she faced him again. 'How much do you want to invest in gloves, please?' 'That is not the point. I want to stock her glove drawer. Warm gloves, cool gloves, dark gloves, light gloves; you have carte blanche. I will look on now.' Hazel laughed a little. 'There are more sorts of gloves than that. What about six buttons?' 'Six buttons!' repeated Rollo. 'Would you like more?' 'I do not understand the question. Excuse me.' Wych Hazel held out her dainty wrist, turning it slightly that he might see. 'I approve of that,' said he, looking gravely down at it. 'But you cannot have that for nothing,' said Hazel. 'What?' said Dane, his eyes coming now with a sparkle in them to her face. 'Hush!—Don't you understand? The more buttons, the fewer gloves—if you are limited. That was why I asked how much.' 'The buttons do not look costly.' 'But they are—in effect.' 'What's the difference?' 'Every additional button counts for so much,' Hazel told him. 'How many buttons are needed for comfort?' 'Twelve are best for some occasions,—and I think I have one box with two.' 'But how many are needed for comfort?' said Dane, inquisitorially now. 'Why!—as I told you,' said Hazel. 'The comfort of a glove depends on its fitting your dress and the occasion as well as your hand.' Dane pulled a card out of his pocket and did a moment's figuring on it with his pencil. Then shewed it to Wych Hazel. 'Do you see?' he said low and rapidly in French. 'If you are buying so many—the difference between two buttons and four would keep a fire all winter for one of Rosy's old women who has no means to buy firing.' Hazel looked at him with open eyes, shook her head, and moved away. 'I see I must quit my side of the counter,' she said. 'That would not suit Prim's "views" at all. May I get them with two?'— Practically the same thing went on in the lace and embroidery departments. In the shawl room Hazel was better satisfied, though even there Rollo was content with less than a cashmere. Furs, linens, ribbands, what not, claimed also attention; and Prim's trunk took a good while to fill. The next thing was a new carpet for the long library at Dr. Maryland's.