"I know--I know," said she appealingly. "It doesn't matter. I really
don't care anything about it.
"But you'll not go when it's so clearly a folly to----"
"I am going," said she. "You ought to be grateful that I have such
inexpensive whims. Most of us silly women--" She paused, with a lift
of the long, slender eyebrows. How absurd to gird at him whose opinions
interested her as little as hers interested him!
He revolved what she had been saying, presently reddened. "I thought I
had explained to you," said he, "that the laboratory is very expensive.
I know I don't give you much. I've had to cut down the household
allowance because I feel sure Gallatin will be withdrawing his capital.
But just as soon as I----"
She was even of temper again. "You remind me of old Hendricks,"
interrupted she pleasantly. "You know, he made three people toil for
him all their lives, with no pay and mighty poor board and clothes--on
the promise of a legacy--and they died before he did."
But Dick was offended. "It seems to me," said he, "in view of what I'm
doing at the shop----"
"Please don't," she cried. "You're trying to make me out an ingrate,
who doesn't appreciate how you're toiling just for wife and child. Now,
what's the fact? Isn't your work your amusement?"
"Of course, I like it, but----"
"Weren't you doing the same thing before you had a family? Wouldn't you
be doing it if you should lose them? Isn't it your pride that you work
solely for love of science?"
He looked disconcerted assent.
"Then the fact is, you spend most of your income on your own amusement,
as much as if you drank it."
He reflected. "That never occurred to me before," said he. "Possibly I
have viewed it too one-sidedly. I must think it over and see."