I'll turn the salary over to you. You're entirely
welcome to all there is above my board and clothes."
This sounded generous and, so, irritated Margaret the more. "You
know very well we can't live like decent people on twelve or
fifteen thousand a year in Washington."
"You knew that before you married me. What did you have in mind?"
Silence.
"Why do you find it difficult to be frank with me?"
His courteous, appealing tone and manner made it impossible to
indulge in the lie direct or the lie evasive. She continued
silent, raging inwardly against him for being so ungenerous, so
ungentlemanly as to put her in such a pitiful posture, one vastly
different from that she had prearranged for herself when "the
proper time" came.
"You had something in mind," he persisted. "What is it?"
"Grandmother wishes us to live with her," she said with intent to
flank.
"Would you like that?" he inquired; and her very heart seemed to
stand still in horror at his tone. It was a tone that suggested
that the idea was attractive!
She debated. He must be "bluffing"--he surely must. She rallied
her courage and pushed on: "It's probably the best we can do in
the circumstances.
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