The main financial facts having been stated, Aline came to detail. These were the weekly books from the various tradesmen. She showed a typical week's expenditure. “What about the fishmonger?” asked Norma, noting an obvious omission. “Fish is too expensive to have regularly,” Aline explained, “and so I don't have an account. When I buy any, I pay for it at once, in the shop.” “When _you_ buy it?” “Why, yes. You'll find it much better to go and choose things for yourself than let them call for orders. Then you can get exactly what you want, instead of what suits the tradesman's convenience. You see, I go to the butcher and look round, and say 'I want a piece of that joint,' and of course he does as he's told. It seems horrid to any one not accustomed to it to go into a butcher's shop, I know; but really it's not unpleasant, and it's quite amusing.” “But why should n't your housekeeper do the marketing?” “Oh, she does sometimes,” Aline admitted; “but Hannah is n't a good buyer. She can't _judge_ meat and things, you know, and she is apt to be wasteful over vegetables.” “You don't bring the--the meat and things--home with you in a basket, do you?” asked Norma, with a nervous laugh. Jimmie, interested in his sketch, had not listened to the conversation, which had been carried on in a low tone. The last words, however, pitched higher, caught his ear. He jumped to his feet. “Norma carry home meat in a basket! Good God! What on earth has the child been telling you?” “I never said anything of the kind, Jimmie,” cried Aline, indignantly. “You needn't bring home anything unless you like; our tradesmen are most obliging.” Norma pushed back her chair from the table and rose and again laughed nervously. “I am afraid I can't learn all the science of domestic economy in one lesson. I must do it by degrees.” She passed her hand across her forehead. “I'm not used to figures, you see.” Jimmie looked reproachfully at Aline. “Those horrid little black books!” he exclaimed. “They are enough to give any one a headache. For heaven's sake, have nothing to do with them, dear.” “But the brokers will come in,” said Norma, with an uncertain catch in her voice. “They are Aline's pet hobgoblins,” laughed Jimmie. “My dear child,” pointing to the books, “please take those depressing records of wasted hours away.” When they were alone, he said to Norma very tenderly, “I am afraid my little girl has frightened you.” She started at the keenness of his perception and flushed. “No--not frightened.” “She is so proud of the way she runs her little kingdom here,” he said; “so proud to show you how it is done. You must forgive her. She is only a child, my dearest, and forgets that these household delights of hers may come as shocks to you. I shall not allow you to have these worries that she loves to concern her head about.”