'I know you left a margin, but you left out coals and clothes altogether.' 'Oh, did I?' 'And the margin went in a week, the first week of your holiday. You never counted holidays in the Budget.' 'Oh! I--I--well, I suppose it escaped my recollection.' 'Never mind that. It can't be helped now. You see, Bruce, we simply haven't enough for our expenses.' 'Oh, then what's the use of looking at the accounts?' 'Why, to see where we are. What we've done, and so on. What do you usually do when you receive a bill?' 'I put it in the fire. I don't believe in keeping heaps of useless papers; it's so disorderly. And so I destroy them.' 'That's all very well, but you know you really oughtn't to be in debt. It worries me. All I want you to do,' she continued, 'is just to go through the things with me to see how much we owe, how much we can pay, and how we can manage; and just be a little careful for the next few months.' 'Oh, if that's all you want--well, perhaps you're right, and we'll do it, some time or other; but not tonight.' 'Why not? You have nothing to do!' 'Perhaps not; but I can't be rushed. Of course, I know it's rather hard for you, old girl, being married to a poor man; but you know you _would_ do it, and you mustn't reproach me with it now.' She laughed. 'We're not a bit too hard up to have a very pleasant time, if only you weren't so--,' then she stopped. 'Go on; say it!' he exclaimed. 'You want to make out I'm extravagant, that's it! I _have_ large ideas, I own it; it's difficult for me to be petty about trifles.' 'But, Bruce, I wasn't complaining at all of your large ideas. You hardly ever give me a farthing, and expect me to do marvels on next to nothing. Of course, I know you're not petty about some things.' She stopped again. 'All right then; I'll give up smoking and golfing, and all the little things that make life tolerable to a hard-working man.' 'Not at all, dear. Of course not. There's really only one luxury--if you won't think me unkind--that I think, perhaps, you might try to have less of.' 'What is that?' 'Well, dear, couldn't you manage not to be ill quite so often? You see, almost whenever you're bored you have a consultation. The doctors always say you're quite all right; but it does rather--well, run up, and you can't get much fun out of it. Now, don't be angry with me.' 'But, good God, Edith! If I didn't take it in time, you might be left a young widow, alone in the world, with Archie. Penny-wise and pound-foolish to neglect the health of the breadwinner! Do you reproach me because the doctor said I wasn't dangerously ill at the time?' 'Of course not; I'm only too thankful.' 'I'm sure you are really, dear. Now yesterday I felt very odd, very peculiar indeed.' 'Oh, what was it?' 'An indescribable sensation. At first it was a kind of heaviness in my feet, and a light sensation in my head, and a curious kind of emptiness--nervous exhaustion, I suppose.'