He really could not spend as much this year as last--why, there was--for pictures, so much; charities, so much, etc.

It would quite cut into the amount he had already decided to lay by.

He must draw in somewhere: he was worth only--the line of figures slipped in before his eyes with its lantern-slide coldness.
He reflected.

He must cut down on his charities.

He could not reduce the sum for the General Hospital Fund; he had been giving to that a number of years .-- Nor that for the asylum; Mrs.Wright was the president of that board, and had told him she counted on him .-- Hang Mrs.Wright! It was positive blackmail!--Nor the pew-rent; that was respectable--nor the Associated Charities; every one gave to that.