At no time in his life had Vandover accustomed himself to self-denial; he could hardly begin now.
At length Saturday morning had come, and while he was dressing he realized that he could not look forward to any unusual dinner the next day at noon.

The disappointment had all the force of an unexpected disaster and he began keenly to regret his weakness of the past week.
Suddenly Vandover resolved that he would go without food all that day; it would be a saving of fifteen cents, which, added to the five cents that he would spend anyway for his dinner, would almost make a quarter.
He knew where he could dine excellently well for twenty cents.

However, he could not make up his mind to go without his Sunday morning's breakfast.

That, he told himself, he must eat.
Once dressed, Vandover went out.

Fortunately, the rain had stopped.