Owing to his order of mind, his confidence in the sex was not great.

His wife never possessed the virtues which would win the confidence and admiration of a man of his nature.

As long as she loved him vigorously he could see how confidence could be, but when that was no longer the binding chain--well, something might happen.
During the last year or two the expenses of the family seemed a large thing.

Jessica wanted fine clothes, and Mrs.Hurstwood, not to be outshone by her daughter, also frequently enlivened her apparel.
Hurstwood had said nothing in the past, but one day he murmured.
"Jessica must have a new dress this month," said Mrs.Hurstwood one morning.
Hurstwood was arraying himself in one of his perfection vests before the glass at the time.
"I thought she just bought one," he said.
"That was just something for evening wear," returned his wife complacently.
"It seems to me," returned Hurstwood, "that she's spending a good deal for dresses of late." "Well, she's going out more," concluded his wife, but the tone of his voice impressed her as containing something she had not heard there before.
He was not a man who traveled much, but when he did, he had been accustomed to take her along.

On one occasion recently a local aldermanic junket had been arranged to visit Philadelphia--a junket that was to last ten days.