This daily care about mere eating and drinking seemed unworthy of a woman who had noble aspirations, such as burned in her breast.

That was work for women-drudges who had no higher ambition; "and Heaven knows," she would often say to herself, "there are enough and to spare of these." "What's the use of keeping up an establishment like this just for two people ?" she would often remark to her husband; and he would usually reply, "For the sake of having a home into which one may retire and shut out the world." Irene would sometimes suggest the lighter expense of boarding.
"If it cost twice as much I would prefer to live in my own house," was the invariable answer.
"But see what a burden of care it lays on my shoulders." Now Hartley could only with difficulty repress a word of impatient rebuke when this argument was used.

He thought of his own daily devotion to business, prolonged often into the night, when an important case was on hand, and mentally charged his wife with a selfish love of ease.

On the other hand, it seemed to Irene that her husband was selfish in wishing her to bear the burdens of housekeeping just for his pleasure or convenience, when they might live as comfortably in a hotel or boarding-house.
On this subject Hartley would not enter into a discussion.

"It's no use talking, Irene," he would say, when she grew in earnest.