‘But Arthur said we must economize, and I promised to be as little expense as possible. Please let me write down half that.’
‘No, no,’ said John, retaining the pencil, ‘not with my consent. Leave yourself the power of giving. Besides, this is to cover all the sundries you cannot charge as household expenses. Now let me mark off another hundred for casualties, and here is what you will have for the year. Now divide.’
‘Surely, two people and three servants can’t eat all that in one week.’
‘Fires, candles,’ said John, amused, but poor Violet was quite overpowered.
‘Oh, dear! how many things I never thought of! Mamma said I was too young! These coals. Can you tell me anything about them?’
‘I am afraid not. You are getting beyond me. If you wanted to know the cost of lodgings in Italy or the south of France, I could help you; but, after all, experience is better bought than borrowed.’
‘But what shall I do? Suppose I make Arthur uncomfortable, or spend his money as I ought not when he trusts me?’
‘Suppose you don’t,’ said John. ‘Why should you not become an excellent housewife? Indeed, I think you will’ he proceeded, as she fixed her eyes on him. ‘You see the principle in its right light. This very anxiety is the best pledge. If your head was only full of the pleasure of being mistress of a house, that would make me uneasy about you and Arthur.’
‘Oh! that would be too bad! Mamma has talked to me so much. She said I must make it a rule never to have debts. She showed me how she pays her bills every week, and gave me a great book like hers. I began at Winchester.’
‘Why, Violet, instead of knowing nothing, I think you know a great deal!’