“Well then, your way of life. Isn't it pretty selfish, to marry a woman and then expect her to live on very little indeed, and that always precarious, just because you happen to believe in Providence or in Chance: which I think worse? What I don't see is where others come in. What would the world be like if everybody lived that way?”
“Other people can please themselves,” said Aaron.
“No, they can't—because you take first choice, it seems to me. Supposing your wife—or Lilly's wife—asks for security and for provision, as Sir William says. Surely she has a right to it.”
“If I've no right to it myself—and I HAVE no right to it, if I don't want it—then what right has she?”
“Every right, I should say. All the more since you are improvident.”
“Then she must manage her rights for herself. It's no good her foisting her rights on to me.”
“Isn't that pure selfishness?”
“It may be. I shall send my wife money as long as I've money to send.”
“And supposing you have none?”
“Then I can't send it—and she must look out for herself.”