Year: 1877

The amalIneSS OF Its slZe-and 1t was OK


tremely small-was rather an advantage


than otherwise, as it would require so


little furniture ard two maids would


be amply sufficient for our establish


ment, which in such place would be a


most creditable menGgc.


We were delighted with the house, the


balcony to the drawing room being, as


we enthusiastically agreed, almost worth


the rem, itself; and we made no resis-


tance when the house agent, who must


have had some amusement over our in


nocence and inexperience, fixed us for a
seven years lease, representing to us


that our advantage were almost un-
equalled, having 1no premium to pay.
We censented-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


1, 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 e200, with which we felt sure the


house could be really nicely done and


this sum ne was to pay interest for until


the principal itself was paid of.


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; trife more


here and trife 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 iDnumerable etce-


teras were declared absolutely indispen-


sible 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, l awaited them with immense de-
light.


But vast as the importation appeared,
| had yet 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
siOns, and the servants seemed to have
come to the end of their requirements
so the only thing we had to think of was
the bill which had not yet been sent into
us. / was frightened to think about it
but Henry was quite prepared for its
being considerably over the G200. Judge
of our disnay when we did receive it to


find it more than twice that sum-G450
odd ! There were frightful entries for
time which in themselves represented
serious item, and upon which we had
never calculated; and our small sundries,
which we HAD hardly taken at all into
account, came to something quite appall-
ing.


But the irsL 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 il from
our minds. Friends were rapidly gather
ing around us; we must receive and pay
visits; so it was not very difficult to
Danish dis8greeables, and to enter with
the greatest enjoyment into the new life
which lay before us. / had fancied our
house very complete and perfect until |
saw some of the elegant drawing rooms
to my new acquaintances
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 attendant
expenses, which it was absolutely impOs-
sible to avoid for in Henry's position it
was, as we thought, most necessary for
US to maintain a good appearance and,
as his wife, it was incumbent upon me
to dress as well and fashionable as /
could.


So things went on; and before we had
been married two years / need hardly
say we were hopelessly and horribly in
debt. To retrench seemed utterly i'm
possible. / hardly knew where the ex-
travagauce lay but the fact remained,
we were living far beyond our income
our bills were never ending and every
day we were sinking deeper and deeper
into the mire. To add to our difficulties
q nursery had been established, and,
though one might imagine so small an
addition was not serious one, it cost us
no trihing sum. / could not have en-
lured to see my baby badly dressed.
How could have seen it go out except |
in the sweetest and freshest of garments
So it was duly adorned in the whitest !
and prettiest things, which insured a |
most satisfactory amount of patronage !
for our laundress and most appalling
bills for me. However, We managed to |
keep af1Oat in some wonderful manner;
but Henry was beginning to have a |
carewOrn look, to which could !
not blind myself. He was worried and |
narassed. His business was all right |
but there were bills to be met, difficulties |
10 be disposed of which he could not |
luite see the end of.


To outward appearance, however, we |
.eemed a very prosperous pair. Our house /
vas now as elegant as our neighbOrs.
1ad a thousand costly little trifles lying
bout in the drawing room, got from
ime to time, and as usual not paid for,
ome of which the storekeepeTs them
elves had pressed me into purchasing.
Sometimes sharp pang shot through
ne when | thought over our position,
md | wished when we first set up that /
lad had sufficient sense 60 persuade
Henry to do 50 more in accordance with
,ur income than we had done but it
vas too late now we must trust to some
,OOd fortune turning up. Henry had
ropes that his partners meant TO promote
lin and if they were realized we should
)e much better of. This idea was buoy
ng US both up, and we were feeling
aDguine when Mr.. Trevor, the senior
a peculiar man, who never al
most left his own house in Bedford
quare, except fol the Office, announced
lis intention of coming to Amberley
Villas to dine, if we would have him.
N our anxiety to impress him favOrably
We launched out into further expense.
lie must be handsomely entertained, so
much might depend upon his visit. Ac-
/ arranged a most recherche
title dinner, and had the table laid out
Ia russo to my entire satisfaction when
was completed, surveying the
with the almost confidence
n Mr.. 1revor's verdict. But alas for
1enry's hopes and for my dinner. Mr..
Trevor came. partOok very sparingly and
ilently of our hospitality, and departed
without having dropped one syllable vn
he subject which we were SO hoping he
would discuss.


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