This policy of alternately frightening, dragooning, and supplicating Leila had carried him so far; and though it was true that this was a more serious situation than he had ever yet faced, he was convinced that his wife would pull him out somehow; and how that was to be accomplished he did not very much care, as long as he was pulled out safely.
"What this household requires," he said, "is economy." He spread his legs, denting the Aubusson carpet with his boot-heels, and glanced askance at his wife.

"Economy," he repeated, furtively wetting his lips with a heavily coated tongue; "that's the true solution; economical administration in domestic matters.

Retrenchment, Leila! retrenchment! Fewer folderols.

I've a notion to give up that farm, and stop trying to breed those damfool sheep.

They cost a thousand apiece, and do you know what I got for those six I sent to Westbury?
Just twelve hundred dollars from Fleetwood--the bargaining shopkeeper! Twelve hundred! Think of that! And along comes Granby and sells a single ram for six thousand plunks!" Leila's head was lowered.