Why should his wife be in a different position from his mother's?
There was no reason, in the nature of things.

But custom is very strong, and the early years of Mrs.Carlyle's married life were a hard struggle against grinding poverty.

Carlyle was grandly indifferent to material things.

He wanted no luxuries, except tobacco and a horse.

He would not have altered his message to mankind, or his mode of delivering it, for the wealth of the Indies.
What he had to say he said, and men might take it or leave it as they thought proper.