His face flushed. He looked both ashamed and angry, but a man in his position is at a loss to know what to do when attacked by a woman outside his family. He had enough pride to shrink from this invasion of his affairs, but he did not know just how to resent it.
“It ain't no matter fer discussion,” he said, “but she's been into my pockets, an' thet's what I can't stand.”
“What do you steal her money for, then?” demanded Nannie.
He stared at her in stupid astonishment.
“It's you who steal!” continued Nannie in ringing tones. “There she is, earning more than you do, and——”
“I don't know how you make that out,” said the man in a sulky tone.
“Try to hire some one to take her place, and you'll learn. She could hire your work done fast enough, but there never has been and there never will be money enough in all your horrid pockets put together to hire what she does for you and the children; and then you are so nasty, and mean, and dishonest as to clutch the money and pretend you have the right to dole out what belongs to her. I wonder you aren't ashamed to be alive!”
He certainly did look ashamed now. He had probably never before viewed matters from this point.
“Well, I don't suppose I done just the right thing. I'm not going ter deny it, but money comes hard, anyhow.”
“And her life is hard enough, anyhow, without your making it harder by tyrannizing over her.”