Volume III. The Mother CHAPTER 6.
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One day, some three or four weeks after Hartley had commenced housekeeping, a member of the firm of R. S. & Co. said to the senior partner, "I observe that James checked out, yesterday, two thousand dollars."
"Two thousand dollars! Are you sure?"
"I am."
"Strange! what can he want with that sum of money?"
"You know he is married."
"Yes. But what has that to do with two thousand dollars?"
"He has gone to housekeeping."
"That explains it. He mentioned to me his intention of doing so some weeks ago."
"But don't you think he is pretty free with money? A young man like him should not expect to dash out in very elegant style."
"True. But it is a question whether two thousand dollars will furnish a house very elegantly."
"Two thousand dollars will not go very far towards accomplishing that end, certainly. But, it is more than probable, that the major part of his furniture has been bought on a regular credit of six months, and that the two thousand dollars have been taken to pay for sundries not included in the bills for cabinet-ware and carpets."
"That may be. At any rate, it will be just as well for us to know all about this matter. Suppose you make some excuse to call in upon the young couple some evening this week, and see how they look."
"I will do so."
"Most sincerely do I hope that you will find all right. That a just regard to James's situation in life will be apparent in everything around them. Too often it is the case, that, as soon as a young man is taken into business, he imagines his fortune made, and forthwith begins to spend money as freely as if it were water. Of this weakness, I never should have suspected Hartley. But, there is no telling what influence his wife, if she has a love of show and extravagance, may have over him. If any game of this kind is to be played, we will have to throw him over the wall the first chance that offers."
"Better, I think, to remonstrate with him first. If incorrigible, he will have to be cut off."
"All this, however, is assuming that he is running wild already. Let us be certain of this first. He has always showed himself a prudent young man."
"So he has. And it is hardly fair to suspect him too strongly upon the evidence we now have before us. Two thousand dollars may be for the whole expense of furnishing his house. If so, I do not think he has exceeded a prudent limit, when it is considered that his dividend on the profit ought to reach four or five thousand dollars per annum, as business now is."
As determined upon, one of the partners called in upon Hartley, and sat for half an hour with him, on the plea of a conference about some matter of business forgotten during the day.
"Did you see Hartley, last evening?" asked the other member of the firm, when they met next morning.
"Yes."
"Well? What was the result?"
"All right, I would think."
"I am glad to hear it. What is the appearance of things?"
"Elegant."
"Elegant?"
"Yes, but not too costly."
"How were the parlors furnished?"
"With admirable taste, considering the outlay, which could not have been extravagant."
"I am really gratified. Then, the two thousand dollars must have been to meet the whole cost of their furniture?"
"Yes. If the rest of the house is in keeping with the parlors, which is no doubt the case, two thousand dollars is ample."
"I thought James had too much good sense to be led aside from prudence. Did you see his wife?"
"Yes."
"How did you like her?"
"Very much. I would call her a charming young creature."
"Is she pretty?"
"Certainly so."
"And a lady?"
"If she is not one, ladies are hard to find. Her face is very sweet; and, although she looks young, there is nothing childish about her."
"Who is she?"
"The daughter of old Mr. Lee, in the Insurance Company."
"Ah! Wasn't there a good deal of talk about her refusing a very advantageous marriage offer some time ago?"
"Yes. She refused the hand of Gardiner."
"So she did. I remember now; and that I, in opposition to a good many lady friends, applauded her course. She is a sensible girl, I take it."
"So do I. Sensible for refusing Gardiner, and accepting Hartley."
"Marriage usually makes or mars a young man's fortune," said the other. "I am happy to find that in our young friend's case, the former result is likely to occur. If he has a prudent, sensible wife — there need be no fear for him."
"That he has, I am ready to vouch," was confidently replied.
It was true, as Hartley's senior associates in business had supposed. Two thousand dollars paid all the bills that were made by Hartley in furnishing his house. Had he not been governed by his wife's better judgment in matters of domestic economy, the cost would have been nearly doubled. The way in which this would have affected his standing in the eyes of the principal members of his firm, the reader can easily guess.
Of all this careful observation of his conduct, Hartley had not the most remote suspicion. Had he married a woman whose love of display had seconded his desire to make animposing appearance in the world — the first intimation of his error would have been, in all probability, a notice that he must curtail his expenses at least one-half, or leave the firm of which he was a partner. The mortification that this would have occasioned, need not be described. So far from a fine house and costly furniture producing happiness — they would have made both himself and wife miserable!
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