"Oh, nothing in particular. Goodness knows I've tried to keep down
expenses, but--well, we're a pretty large household, you know--"
"Yes," said Roger kindly, "I know. Are the month's bills in?"
"Yes."
"Let me see them." She brought him the bills and he looked relieved. "Not
so many," he ventured.
"No, but they're large."
"Why, look here, Edith," he said abruptly, "these are bills for two
months--some for three, even four!"
"I know--that's just the trouble. I couldn't meet them at the time."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Laura was here--and I didn't want to bother you--you had enough on your
mind as it was. I've done the best I could, father dear--I've sold
everything, you know--but I've about come to the end of my rope." And her
manner said clearly, "I've done my part. I'm only a woman. I'll have to
leave the rest to you."
"I see--I see." And Roger knitted his heavy brows. "I presume I can get it
somehow." This would play the very devil with things!
"Father." Edith's voice was low. "Why don't you let Deborah help you? She
does very little, it seems to me--compared to the size of her salary."
"She can't do any more than she's doing now," was his decisive answer.
Edith looked at him, her color high. She hesitated, then burst out:
"I saw her check book the other day, she had left it on the table! She's
spending thousands--every month!"
"That's not her own money," Roger said.
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