Not only my privilege, but my duty! I owe it to my self-respect, to my social position, to my standing as your wifethe wife of a prominent man of affairsto have at my command a sum of ready money when I need it. You know perfectly well, I do not want it for anything wrongor for anything that I want to keep secret from you. You know I have never had a secret from you nor do I wish to have! I simply want to do as other women doeven the poorest, the meanest man, will give his wife an allowance, a little something that is absolutely her own. Why, most of the women of my set have a checking account at the bankthey all have a personal allowance!
So? Embury took up another cigarette. You may remember, Eunice, I have spoken my last word on the subject.
And you may remember that I have not! But I willand right now. And it is simply that since you refuse me the pleasure and convenience of some money for everyday use, I shall get some from another source.
Emburys eyes narrowed, and he surveyed his wife with a calm scrutiny. Then he smiled.
Stenography and typewriting? he said; or shall you take in plain sewing? Cut out the threats, Eunice; they wont get you anywhere!
Theyll get me where I want to arrive! Dont say I didnt warn youI repeat, I shall get money for my personal use, and you will have no right to criticize my methods, since you refuse me a paltry sum by way of allowance.
Eunice was standing, her two hands tightly grasping a chair-back as she looked angrily at Embury, who still seated lazily, blew smoke rings toward her. She was magnificent in her anger, her cheeks burned crimson, her dark eyes had an ominous gleam in them and her curved lips straightened into a determined line of scarlet. Her muscles were strained and tense, her breath came quickly, yet she had full control of herself and her pose was that of a crouching, waiting tiger rather than a furious ode.
Embury was full of admiration at the beautiful picture she made, but pursuant of his inexorable plan, he rose to tame her.
Tiger, tiger, burning bright, he quoted, you must take back that speechit is neither pretty nor tactful
I have no wish to be tactful! Why should I? I am not trying to coax or cajole you! You refuse my requestyou have repeatedly refused menow, I am at the end of my patience, and I shall take matters into my own hands!
Lovely hands! he murmured, taking them in his own. You have unusually pretty hands, Eunice; it would be a pity to use them to earn money.
Yet that is my intention. I shall get money by the work of these hands. It will be in a way that you will not approve, but you have forfeited your right to approve or disapprove.
That I have not! I am your husbandyou have promised to obey me
A mere form of wordsit meant nothing!
Our marriage ceremony meant nothing?
If it did, remember that you endowed me with all your worldly goods
And I give them to you, too! Do you know that nine-tenths of my yearly expenditures are for your pleasure and benefit! I enjoy our home, too, but it would not be the elaborate, luxurious establishment that it is, but that it suits your taste to have it so! And then, you whine and fret for what you yourself call a paltry matter! Ingrate!
Dont you dare call me ingrate! I owe you no gratitude! Do you give me this home as a charity? As a gift, even! It is my right! And it is also my right to have a bank account of my own! It is my right to uphold my head among other women who laugh at me, who ridicule me, because, with all your wealth, I have no purse of my own! I will not stand it! I rebel! And you may rest assured things are going to be different hereafter. I will get money
You shall not! Embury grasped the wrists of the hands he still held, and his face was fiercely frowning. You are my wife, and whatever you may or may not owe to me, you owe it to our position, to our standing in the community to do nothing beneath your dignity or mine!
You care nothing for my dignity, for my appearance before other women, so why should I consider your dignity? You force me to it, and it is therefore your fault if I
What is it you propose to do? How are you going to get this absurd paltry sum you are making such a fuss about?
That I decline to tell you
Dont you dare to do needlework or anything that would make me look foolish. I forbid it!
And I scorn your forbidding! Make you look foolish, indeed! When you make me look foolish every day of my life, because I cant do as other women docant have what other wives have
Now, now, Tiger, dont make such a row over nothinglets talk it over seriously
Theres nothing to talk over. Ive asked you time and again for an allowance of moneyreal money, not charge accountsand you always refuse
And always shall, if you are so ugly about it! Why must you fly into a rage over it? Your temper is
My temper is roused by your cruelty
Cruelty!
Yes; its as much cruelty as if you struck me! You deny me my hearts dearest wish for no reason whatever
Its enough that I dont approve of an allowance
It ought to be enough that I do!
No, no, my lady! I love you, I adore you, but I am not the sort of man to lie down and let you walk over me! I give you everything you want and if I reserve the privilege of paying for it myself, it does not seem to me a crime!
Oh, do hush up, Sanford! You drive me frantic! You prate the same foolishness, over and over! I dont want to hear any more about it. You said you had spoken the last word on the subject, now stop it! I, too, have said my final say. I shall do as I please, and I shall not consider myself accountable to you for my actions.
Confound it! Do what you please, then! I wash my hands of your nonsense! But be careful how you carry the name I have given you!
If you keep on, I may decide not to carry it at all
Eunice was interrupted by the entrance of Ferdinand, announcing the arrival of Mason Elliott.
Trained in the school of convention, both the Emburys became at once the courteous, cordial host and hostess.
Hello, Elliott, sang out Sanford, glad to see your bright and happy face. Come right along and chum in.
Eunice offered her hand with a welcoming smile.
Just the boy I was looking for, she said, weve the jolliest game on for the afternoon. Havent we, San?
Fool trick, if you ask me! Howsumever, everything goes. Interested in thought-transference bunk, Elliott?
I know what youre getting at. Mason Elliott nodded his head understandingly. Hendricks put me wise. So, I says to myself, sposin I hop along and listen in. Yes, I am interested, sufficiently so not to mind your jeers about bunk and that.
Oh, do you believe in it, Mason? said Eunice, animatedly; for this is a faked affairor, rather, the explanation of one. Its the Hanlon boy, you know
Yes; I know. But whats the racket with you two turtle-doves? I come in, and find Eunice wearing the pet expression of a tragedy queen and Sanford, here, doing the irate husband. Going into the movies?
Yes, thats it, and Eunice smiled bravely, although her lips still quivered from her recent turbulent quarrel, and a light, jaunty air was forced to conceal her lingering nervousness.
Irate husband is good! laughed Embury, considering we are yet honeymooners.