She had got a habit of whining and crooning over them, of which she was unconscious, in fact she was not conscious of any of her defects. Frank had always said his wife must be amiable, and in one sense Lily was so; but she had not strength of character enough to get angry on, and in her ill-ordered household she was beginning to grow, not morose, not crusty, but nervously peevish.
Mrs. Grey kept congratulating herself that she had come to see all these evils, and then kept asking herself what she was going to do about it.
She concluded, at last, to begin on a very small matter.
"Lily, dear, do not let my being here confine you to me. You must be wanting to use this delightful weather for your spring shopping."
"There isn't any hurry about that."
"You know hot weather may be upon us any day. I have written to Laura to do Margaret's shopping for her at once."
"I don't think it will be hot. I hate to have to see to dress-making."
"I'm afraid Frank keeps you low in funds."
"He gives me all I want."