Year: 1877


but it was too early days to venture ON
clined we were sure to live very quiet
ly when we once settled down, and could
easily then make up for any little ex-
travagance of which Mt the outset we had
been guilty. We were to live in Lon
don, and we were fully agreed on one
point lodgings were not to be thought
of; we must have house of our own.
The prospect of possessing one jointly
with Henry was very pleasant to me. 1
pictured an endless fund of amusement
and occupation, 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 a small fortune
in cab-hire before we found just what we
wanted; even then, though the situa-
ton was good and the domicile desira-
BILE, the rent rather frightened us it was
80 guineas a year, unfurnished, but we
should be so comfortable in it, The
smallness of its size-and it was extreme
ly small-was rather an advantage than
otherwise, as it would require so little
furniture and two maids would be am
ply sufficient for our establishment,
which in such place would be a most
creditable nendge.


We were delighted with the house, the
balcony to the drawing-room being, as
we enthusiastically agreed, almost worth
the rent itself and we made no resis-
tance when the house agent, who must
bova bo1 Gonna ounuoamapt oyar orr IN
nocence and inexperience, fixed us for a
seven-years' lease, representing to us
that our advantages were almost un-
equaled, having no 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 ar
rived at


We knew nothing about furnishing ;
never dreamed of the dangers of green
wood or the inevitable results of cheap
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
and L, remembering Uncle Joscelyn's ad-
vice, ventured to say that we should re-
solve not to go beyond it, We came to
the conclusion that actual necessares
might be bought, taking the prices from
the books, for 9150 so Henry decided
on borrowing 9200, with which we felt
sure the house could be really nicely
done, and this sum he was to pay inter-
est for until the principal 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; a trifie more
here and trife there could make no diff
ference in the sum total, and be every
thing in the niceness and prettiness of
our house besides which our estimates
of necessaries proved a very inadequate
one when innumerable etceteras We're de-
clared absolutely indispensable by the
attendant shopkeeper. We made appa-
rently endless purchases, which we
could hardly remember until they were
deposited in Amberley villas, where, with
my newly engaged domestics, awaited
them with immense delight.


But vast as the importation appeared,
had yet to learn of the legion of wants
undreamed of by us. Scarcely day
passed without some new demand being
made, which apparently it was perfectly
impossible to do without. But mt last /
was thoroughly satisfied with our pos
sessions, and the servants seemed to have
come to the end of their requirements !;
so the only thing that we had to think of
was the bill, which had not yet been sent
in to us. L was frightened to think
about it; but Henry was quite prepared
for its being considerably over the f200.
Judge of our dismay when we did re-
ceive it to find it more than twice that
sum-9456 odd There were frightful
entries for "Time," which in them
selves represented serious item, and
upon which we had never calculated /;
and our small sundries, which we had
hardly at all taken into account, came to
something quite appalling.


But the first shock over, the offending
document was thrust aside-it would be
paid all in good time ; and for the pres
ent we both resolved to dismiss it from
our minds. Friends were rapidly gath
ering around us; we must receive and
pay visits SO it was not very difficult to
Danish disagreeables, and to enter with
the greatest enjoyment into the new life
which lay before us. / had fancied our
house was very complete and perfect un-
til / saw some of the elegant drawing
rooms of some of our new acquaint-
ances; after that many deficiencies were
plainly visible and in order to supply
them we went to different shops, making
various purchases, which, as usual, were
put down to our account. Then came
our first entertainment with its attend
ant expenses, which it was absolutely
impossible to avoid for in Henry's posi-
ton it was, as we thought, most neces-
sary for us to maintain good appear
ance and, as his wife, il was incumbent
upon me to dress as well and as fashion
ably as could.


So things went on and before we had
been married two years i need hardly say
we were hopelessly and horribly in debt.
To retrench seemed utterly impossible.
/ hardly knew where our extravagance
lay (; but the fact remained, we were liv-
ing far beyond our income our bills