Harry looked in this evening, and gladly remained to drink tea with me. There was a small iced plum-cake on the tea-table, a present from Mrs. Secker; and I was pleased to see the lad pay his respects to it pretty handsomely. We got quite cozy and confidential over our little meal. He looked about him with satisfaction, and said, “Everything is so trig and tidy here! I wish we were in your easy circumstances, Mrs. Cheerlove.” I laughed, and said, “My circumstances are very narrow, however easy I may make them—or take them.” “They may be comparatively easy, though, if not absolutely, I think, ma’am.” “Yes, there are comparative and absolute values.” “Compared, for instance, with those of a straitened family like ours.” “Ah, Harry, there are so many of you! Your father has a larger income than mine, but there is not so much to spend per head. But soon, my dear boy, some of you will be able to increase it; and, meanwhile, comfort yourself with the reflection that the real or imagined necessary expenses of those who have large means, are greater than those of persons who have only small ones.” “I can’t make the reflection, ma’am, because I don’t believe it.” “It is so, though, I assure you. Take the case of a number of persons (I quote Archbishop Whately) of each amount of income, from a hundred a year to a hundred thousand, and you will find the preponderance of those who are in pecuniary difficulties constantly augmenting as you proceed upwards.” “If the _fact_ be so, ma’am, of course I cannot controvert it; but I cannot see how it should be so.” “And when you come to sovereign states, whose revenues are reckoned by millions, you will scarcely find one of them that is not involved in debt.” “Ah, they have so many public expenses.” “And private people have so many private expenses. The temptation to spend increases faster than the wealth.” “Well, it seems to me, that if I had but competence, I could keep within my income.” “At first you would; but your ideas of competence would alter. At least, it is the common tendency of people to go beyond their means. I feel it in myself.” “_You?_” incredulously. “Yes, indeed, Harry. Perhaps I think how shabby and faded the crimson window-curtain begins to look, and I find I can afford to buy a new one. Then I consider that the new window-curtain will make the old carpet look very bad, and I find I cannot have that without pinching. Besides, the new carpet would entail the expense of a new rug; and then the fluted silk of the cabinet piano must be renewed; and, after all, how little it would add to the expense to have new chintz for the sofa and chairs! Thus, expenses mount up—expenses I cannot afford.” “I see.” “So it ends in my not incurring any of them.” “Your curtain looks very nice, though, Mrs. Cheerlove.” “Ah, I had it dipped and embossed.” “Your chintz, too.” “That was washed and callendered.” “Well, I thought only such persons as mamma did those things.”