He was, in fact, confronting disdainfully his position.

He had her on his hands and he was returning to his relations with no definite advantage to exhibit as the result of having married her.

She had been supplied with an income but he had no control over it.

It would not have been so if he had not been in such straits that he had been afraid to risk his chance by making a stand.

To have a wife with money, a silly, sweet temper and no will of her own, was of course better than to be penniless, head over heels in debt and hemmed in by difficulties on every side.