He realized that this sheltered
creature, with whom her mother had never discussed household economics, and
from whom he had purposely kept all knowledge of his business, took for
granted that he could pay his share of the monthly expenses, merely because
all the men she knew did twice as much, however they might grumble. For the
matter of that she never saw Tom Abbott that he did not curse the ascending
prices, but there was no change whatever in his bountiful fashion of
living. Alexina knew that the times were bad and that her husband was
having something of a struggle, and, as a dutiful wife, was anxious to
help him out for the present, but it was simply beyond her powers of
comprehension to grasp the fact that he was in no position to pay half the
expenses of their small establishment.
If he told her...tried to make her understand...even if she did, how would
he appear in her eyes?
Of all people in the world he wanted to stand high with Alexina...he had
never taken more pains to bluff the street when things were at their worst
than this girl who was the symbol of all he had aspired to and precariously
achieved. He had longed for riches, not because she craved luxury and pomp,
but because she would be forced to look up to him with admiration and a
lively gratitude. He had, in this spirit, given her; in the most casual
manner, handsome presents, or brilliant little dinners at fashionable
restaurants, in all of which she took a fervent young pleasure.
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