“To live any plainer than we do, is impossible,” replied Mrs. Townsend; “we keep but a single servant, and I am sure that no family could practice more economy.”
“But we might live in a much smaller house.”
“Smaller house!”
“Yes, mother. We don’t occupy much over half of this, and what is the use of paying one or two hundred dollars for what we don’t want, especially when father has need in his business of every cent he can procure. I saw, when I was out yesterday, a beautiful little house, with rooms very nearly as large as they are in this one, only there were not so many. It was finished as well as this one is, throughout, and had quite as respectable an appearance; and the rent was only two hundred dollars.”
“Indeed!” said Mrs. Townsend, struck with the difference.
“That is all. I think we had better take it. Two hundred dollars is a good deal of money to save off of rent.”
“I don’t believe your father will hear to such a thing.”
“If he consents to move, will you make no objection?”
“I don’t know. But I am sure he will not listen a moment to such a proposition. The way in which we now live is very different to what it was. I never could have believed it possible to become reconciled to it.”
“You say yes, then, if father is willing?”