| Dress-Suit Account | |
| Debit | Credit |
One important lesson! | |
"You don't know how happy you've made me," said Honey, "and I 'm so proud of you—such strength of character—just like old Solon Wright, you're doing this for one you positively dislike, Dearie!—moral discipline!"
"Moral discipline, your grandmother!" snapped Skinner; then softly, "I'm doing it for one I love."
"I would n't have mentioned it if you hadn't got your raise. You know that!"
His raise! Skinner thought much about "his" raise as he lay in bed that night. Had he gone too far to back out, he wondered? By Jove, if he did n't back out, his fast-diminishing bank account would back him out! The thing would work automatically. Probably in his whole life Skinner had never suffered so much disgust. Think of it! He must go on paying mother-in-law a dollar a week forever and ever, amen! No, he'd be hanged if he'd do it! He'd tell Honey the whole thing in the morning and throw himself on her mercy. The resolution gave him relief and he went to asleep.
But he did n't tell Honey in the morning. He was afraid to hurt her. He thought of his resolution of the night. It's so easy to make conscience-mollifying resolves in the night when darkness and silence make cowards of us. No, he could n't tell her now. He'd tell her when he got home to dinner.
Meantime, things were doing in the private office of McLaughlin & Perkins, Inc.
"I've thought it over this far, Perk," said McLaughlin.
"Well?"
"Understand, I believe in Skinner absolutely—but—"