natural longing be absent in her? Her mind went back to
the days of her childhood dolls, and she smiled to think of their large
families. She had always associated marriage with children--until she
got married. And now she remembered that her childhood ideals of the
matrimonial state had been very much, like Mrs. Holt's own experience of
it: Why then had that ideal gradually faded until, when marriage came
to her, it was faint and shadowy indeed? Why were not her spirit and her
hopes enclosed by the walls in which she sat?

The housekeeping book came from Mrs. Holt the next morning, but Honora
did not mention it to her husband. Circumstances were her excuse: he
had had a hard day on the Exchange, and at such times he showed a marked
disinclination for the discussion of household matters. It was not until
the autumn, in fact, that the subject of finance was mentioned between
them, and after a period during which Howard had been unusually
uncommunicative and morose. Just as electrical disturbances are said
to be in some way connected with sun spots, so Honora learned that a
certain glumness and tendency to discuss expenses on the part of her
husband were synchronous with a depression in the market.

"I wish you'd learn to go a little slow, Honora," he said one evening.
"The bills are pretty stiff this month. You don't seem to have any idea
of the value of money."

"Oh, Howard," she exclaimed, after a moment's pause for breath, "how can
you say such a thing, when I save you so much?"

"Save me so much!" he echoed.

"Yes. If I had gone to Ridley for this suit, he would have charged me
two hundred dollars. I took such pains--all on your account--to find
a little man Lily Dallam told me about, who actually made it for one
hundred and twenty-five."

It was typical of the unreason of his sex that he failed to be impressed
by this argument.

"If you go on saving that way," said he, "we'll be in the hands of a
receiver by Christmas. I can't see any difference between buying one
suit from Ridley--whoever he may be--and three from Lily Dallam's
'little man,' except that you spend more than three times as much
money."

"Oh, I didn't get three!--I never thought you could be so unjust,
Howard. Surely you don't want me to dress like these Rivington women, do
you?"

"I can't see anything wrong with their clothes," he maintained.

"And to think that I was doing it all to please you!" she cried
reproachfully.

"To please me