Page:The Fruit of the Tree (Wharton 1907).djvu/304

Rh low price—they are really worth twice as much—and Dick always wanted a set of Ming for the drawing-room mantelpiece.”

Richard Westmore’s name was always tacitly avoided between them, for in Amherst’s case the disagreeable sense of dependence on a dead man’s bounty increased that feeling of obscure constraint and repugnance which any reminder of the ﬁrst husband’s existence is wont to produce in his successor.

He reddened at the reply, and Bessy, proﬁting by an embarrassment which she had perhaps consciously provoked, went on hastily, and as if by rote: “I have left you perfectly free to do as you think best at the mills, but this perpetual discussion of my personal expenses is very unpleasant to me, as I am sure it must be to you, and in future I think it would be much better for us to have separate accounts.”

“Separate accounts?” Amherst echoed in genuine astonishment.

“I should like my personal expenses to be under my own control again—I have never been used to accounting for every penny I spend.”

The vertical lines deepened between Amherst’s brows. “You are of course free to spend your money as you like—and I thought you were doing so when you authorized me, last spring, to begin the changes at Westmore.” [ 288 ]