Year: 1877

how so desirable pdrtt had fallen 10 my
lot. lie was certain to get on--thc senior
partners had been known to say so them.
selves Consequently our start in life
promised to be fair one. And to be
brief, we were married Our honeymoon
was of comparatively short duration, but
it was long enough to cost Henry, rs |
afterwards learned, something like forty
pounds, which was a considerable cut
out of three hundred a year; for IL had
not occurred to him to lay by any spare
cash for those unavoidable expenses. ]
had felt rather uneasyat the expenditure,
but it was too early days to venture ON
any remonstrance had | been so inclined;
wo were sure to live very quietly when
we once settled down, and could easily
then make up for any little extravaganza
of which ut the outset we had been
guilty. We were to live in London, and
we were fully agreed on one point lodg-
ings were not to be thought of we must
have a house of our own. The prospect
of possessing one jointly with Henry was
very pleasant to me. | pictured IN
endless fund of amusement and 0ccupa-
ton too, in furnishing and adorning it
but the mansion had still to be selected
SO our first business was to find one to
suit us, the next to get into it as soon as
possible.


We must have spent small fortune in
cab-hre before we finally found just
what we wanted even then, though the
situation was good and the domicil de-
sirable, the rent rather frightened us; IL
was eighty guineas year unfurnshcd ;
but we should be 20 comfortable in it
The smallness of its size-and it was eX.
tremely small-was rather an advantage
than otherwise, as it would require so
little furniture; and two maids would
be amply sufficient for our establish
ment, which in such place would be u
most creditable meaagc.


We were delighted with the house, the
balcony TO the drawing room being, as
we enthusiastically agreed, almost worth
TIE rem itself; and we made no rosis-
tance when the house agent, who must
have had some amusement over our in
nocence and inexpcrience, fixed us for
seven years lease, representing to us
that our advantage were almost un-
equalled, having rno premium to pay.
| We Consented-in consideration of all he
enumerated in favor of our bargain-to
make any repairs that were necessary;
and in fact were in such delight with
the whole affair that the agreement, as
might have been expected, was very
easily arrived at.


We knew nothing about furnishing;
never dreamt Of the dangers of green
wood or the inevitable result Of cheap
investment; thinking ourselves very
acute to get hold of two furnishing lists
to compare prices besides which we sat
down with paper and pencil to calculate
exactly how much we must spend and
|, remembering Uncle Jocelyn's advice,
ventured to say we should resolve not to
go beyond it. We came to the conclu-
sion that actual necessaries might be
bought, taking the prices from the books,
for goo, with which we felt sure the
house could be really nicely done; and
this sum he was to pay interest for until
the principal itself was paid off.


Nothing could have surpassed our
prudence before we set out. When we
got into the shop we had selected as the
one to patronize we found that the
things we had thought Of were very in
ferior to our imaginings; trilie more
here and trihe more there could make
no great difference IN the sum total and
be everything to us in the niceness and
prettiness of our house besides which
our estimate of necessaries proved very
Inadequate one when innumerable etce-
teras were declared absolutely indispen-
sibe by the attendant shopkeeper. We
made apparently endless purchases,
which we could hardly remember until
they were deposited in Amberley Villas,
where, with my newly engaged domes-
tics, | awaited them with immense de-
light.


But vast as the importation appeared,
had vet to learn of the legion of wants
undreamt Of by us. Scarcely a day
passed without some new demand being
made, which apparently it was perfectly
impossible to do without. But at last
was thoroughly satisfied with our posses
sons, and the servants seemed to have
come to the end of their requirements
so the only thing we had to think of wa
the bill which had not yet been sent int;
us. was frightened to think about it
but Henry was quite prepared for it
being considerably over the goo. Judg'
ofour dismay when we did receive it tt
find it more than twice that sum--,e15l
odd There were frightful entries fo
time which in themselves represented
n serious item, and upon which we haC
never calculated; and our small sundries
which we had hardly taken at all int
account, came to something quite appall
ing.


But the first shock over, the offending
, document was thrust aside-it would b.


paid all in good time; and for the pres
I pnt we both resolved to dismiss it iron
our minds. Friends were rapidly gather
ing around us; we must receive and pa.


visits; so it was not very difficult t
, Danish disagreeables, and to enter wit
the greatest enjoyment into the new lif
, which lay before us. | had fancied on


house very complete and perfect until
saw some of the elegant drawing. room
! belonging to my new acquaintance
, after that, many deficiencies were plainl
, visible and in order to supply them W
!. went to different shops, making variou
a purchases, which, rs usual were pu
a down to our account. Then came ou
i first entertainment with its attendar
{ expenses, which it was absolutely impo
sible to avoid for in Henry's position
: was, as we thought, most necessary lC


us to maintain good appearance; an,
4 as his wife, it was incumbent upon II
I to dress as well and fashionable as
v could.


Y So things went on; and before we ha
i been married two years | need hard
y saw we were hopelessly and horribly
is debt. To retrench seemed utterly in
e possible. | hardly knew where the c.
y travagance lay but the fact remaine'
T. we were living far beyond our income