"I suppose I shall have to clean it myself!" Doris laughed again--this time almost hysterically--but was checked by a fresh entrance of Jane, who, with an air of defiance, deposited a heavy parcel on a chair beside her mistress, and flounced out again.
"What is this ?" said Doris in consternation.

"_Books_?
More books?
Heavens, Arthur, what have you been ordering now! I couldn't sleep last night for thinking of the book-bills." "You little goose! Of course, I must buy books! Aren't they my tools, my stock-in-trade?
Haven't these lectures justified the book-bills a dozen times over ?" This time Arthur Meadows surveyed his wife in real irritation and disgust.
"But, Arthur!--you could get them _all_ at the London Library--you know you could!" "And pray how much time do I waste in going backwards and forwards after books?
Any man of letters worth his salt wants a library of his own--within reach of his hand." "Yes, if he can pay for it!" said Doris, with plaintive emphasis, as she ruefully turned over the costly volumes which the parcel contained.
"Don't fash yourself, my dear child! Why, what I'm getting for the Dizzy lecture is alone nearly enough to pay all the book bills." "It isn't! And just think of all the others! Well--never mind!" Doris's protesting mood suddenly collapsed.

She sat down on a stool beside her husband, rested her elbow on his knee, and, chin in hand, surveyed him with a softened countenance.

Doris Meadows was not a beauty; only pleasant-faced, with good eyes, and a strong, expressive mouth.

Her brown hair was perhaps her chief point, and she wore it rippled and coiled so as to set off a shapely head and neck.