I.[At the Very Beginning—Dividing the Income]
II.[Saving for Staples—The Kitchen—Buying—Linen]
III.[Arranging the Meals—Cooking-Dresses—The Table—The Dinner]
IV.[Soups and Meats]
V.[Vegetables, Salads, Desserts]
VI.[Breakfast, Luncheon, Supper—Odds and Ends]
VII.[The Emergency Closet—Winter Preserves—Cake]
VIII.[The Game of Menus]
IX.[Two Dinner Parties]
X.[Reducing Expenses]
XI.[Luncheons for a Little]
XII.[In the Country]
XIII.[Midsummer Housekeeping—The End of the Holiday]

[CHAPTER I]

At the Very Beginning—Dividing the Income

Mrs. Thorne laid down the letter she was reading and looked across the table to her husband, who, as he was industriously engaged in buttering a muffin, paid scant attention to her for the moment. Presently, however, as he became aware of something portentous in the air, he looked up and inquired:

"My dear, you alarm me. What's the matter? Has the bank suspended and are you considering how best to break the news to me, or has Dolly eloped with the ice-man?"

His wife did not relax her important expression as she replied, "Dolly's engaged."

"Engaged!" Mr. Thorne assumed an overwhelming surprise. "You don't say so! Now who in the world can she possibly be engaged to?"

Mrs. Thorne regarded him with scorn.