“Of course we shall do that,” she added; but I thought she did not seem to be exactly pleased with the diet. “Shall we board or keep house?”
“Which do you prefer, my dear Lilian?” I asked, for though we had discussed this question before, she had not been able to make up her mind.
“If we can board at the Revere House, or at Mrs. Peecksmith’s in Beacon street, I would rather board.”
“It would not be possible to obtain such rooms as would suit us at the Revere House at this season of the year; and I heard a gentleman in Washington say that Mrs. Peecksmith had not a single apartment unoccupied.”
“How provoking!”
It was provoking, but I had to invent my excuses as I went along. I did not venture to suggest that my entire salary would not pay the expenses of boarding at either of the places she named. I was too weak and vain to tell her the truth. I deceived her. She had no knowledge of the world, no experience of the value of money, for her poor father had actually ruined himself in a vain attempt to keep up the style of living he had enjoyed in more prosperous days. Nearly all his profits went upon the backs of his daughters, each of whom had been taught to believe that a husband, when interpreted, was money. I did nothing to disturb the illusion.
“I think we must find a place to board for a few weeks, till we can get a house, and then we will go to housekeeping,” I suggested.
“We must go to housekeeping if we can’t get rooms at the Revere, or at Mrs. Peecksmith’s,” added Lilian. “But dear ma will take us to board for a time; and really I could not think of going anywhere else.”
We went to “dear ma’s,” and after I had paid the hackman, I had just twenty-five cents left in my pocket. “Dear ma” was willing to take us to board for a time, under the circumstances, though it would be a great inconvenience to her. She would not think of taking anybody else, though she had plenty of house room. I ventured to hint that, as a prudent man, I should like to know what the terms would be, though really it did not make the least difference to me, in point of fact. “Dear ma” did not like to speak of such things; she was going to take us simply as a matter of accommodation—“under the circumstances.”
“Of course, Mrs. Oliphant, I understand you, and I am very grateful for the sacrifice you propose to make; but it is always well to have things clearly set forth,” I replied, mildly.