She knew of the slander; she was aware of the keeping aloof of old friends; but these she felt almost entirely on her husband's account.

A loving woman's world lies within the four walls of her own home; and it is only through her husband that she is in any electric communication with the world beyond.

Mrs.Simpkins may have looked scornfully at her, but baby crows and holds out his little arms none the less blithely; Mrs.Tomkins may have left off calling on her, but her husband comes home none the less to receive her care and caresses; it has been wet and gloomy out of doors today, but she has looked well after the shirt buttons, has cut out baby's pinafores, and half finished Willy's blouse.
So it was with Milly.

She was only vexed that her husband should be vexed--only wounded because he was misconceived.

But the difficulty about ways and means she felt in quite a different manner.