She produced $250.00 from her bank account, which she had been saving for years she said. I put up about the same; and we had that little flat as pretty and comfortable as any home I ever saw.
She set her foot down about pictures though. "Time enough for those things when we can afford it," she said, and we certainly could not afford it then.
Then was materialized from some foreign clime a neat, strong young woman to do our house-work, washing and all.
"She's an apprentice," said Dodo. "She is willing to learn housekeeping, and I am willing to teach her."
"How do you come to be so competent in house-work?" said I; "I thought you were a bookkeeper."
Then Dodo smiled her large bright smile. "Morton, dear," she said, "I will now tell you a Secret! I have always intended to marry, and, as far as possible, I learned the business. I am a business woman, you know."
She certainly did know her business. She kept the household accounts like—well, like what she was—an expert accountant. When she furnished the kitchen she installed a good reliable set of weights and measures. She weighed the ice and the bread, she measured the milk and the potatoes, and made firm, definite, accurate protests when things went wrong; even sending samples of queer cream to the Board of Health for analysis. What with my business stationery and her accurate figures our letters were strangely potent, and we were well supplied, while our friends sadly and tamely complained of imposture and extortion.
Her largest item of expense in furnishing was a first-class sewing machine, and a marvellous female figure, made to measure, which stood in a corner and served as a "cloak tree" when not in use.
"You don't propose to make your own clothes, surely?" said I when this headless object appeared.
"Some of 'em," she admitted, "you'll see. Of course I can't dress for society."