“Without his breakfast?”

“Yes, indeed.  And I’ve seen nothing of him since.”

“That’s bad,” said the friend.  “A little tiff now and then is all well enough in its place.  But this is too serious.”

“So I feel it.  Yet what am I to do?”

“You will have to manage better than this.”

“Manage?”

“Yes.  I never have scenes of this kind with my husband.”

“He’s not so close with you as Henry is with me.  He isn’t so mean, if I must speak plainly, in money matters.”

“Well, I don’t know about that.  He isn’t perfect by many degrees.  One of his faults, from the beginning, has been a disposition to dole out my allowance of money with a very sparing hand.  I bore this for some years, but it fretted me; and was the source of occasional misunderstandings that were very unpleasant.”

Mrs. Claxton paused.

“Well; what remedy did you apply?” asked Mrs. Ellis.

“A very simple one.  I took what he was pleased to give me, and if it didn’t hold out, I bought what I needed, and had the bills sent in to the store.”

“Capital!” exclaimed Mrs. Ellis.  “Just what I have been thinking of.  And it worked well?”

“To a charm.”

“What did Mr. Claxton say when the bills came in?”

“He looked grave, and said I would ruin him; but, of course, paid them.”

“Is that the way you got your new carpets?”

“Yes.”

“And your new blinds?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I declare!  But doesn’t Mr. Claxton diminish your allowances of money?”

“Yes, but his credit is as good as his money.  I never pay for dry goods, shoes, or groceries.  The bills are all sent in to him.”

“And he never grumbles?”

“I can’t just say that.  It isn’t a week since he assured me, with the most solemn face in the world, that if I didn’t manage to keep the family on less than I did, he would certainly be ruined in his business.”

“The old story.”

“Yes.  I’ve heard it so often, that it goes in at one ear and out at the other.”

“So have I. But I like your plan amazingly, and mean to adopt it.  In fact, something of the kind was running through my head yesterday.”

“Do so; and you will save yourself a world of petty troubles.  I find that it works just right.”

This advice of her friend Mrs. Ellis pondered all the afternoon, and, after viewing the matter on all sides, deliberately concluded to act in like manner.  Yet, for all this, she could not conquer a certain angry feeling that rankled towards her husband, and, in spite of sundry half formed resolutions to meet him, when he returned, in a kind manner, her reception of him was such as the reader has seen.

CHAPTER XIV.