He did not even consult the ads in the papers any more.
Finally, a distinct impression escaped from her.
"What makes you put so much butter on the steak ?" he asked her one evening, standing around in the kitchen.
"To make it good, of course," she answered.
"Butter is awful dear these days," he suggested.
"You wouldn't mind it if you were working," she answered.
He shut up after this, and went in to his paper, but the retort rankled in his mind.

It was the first cutting remark that had come from her.
That same evening, Carrie, after reading, went off to the front room to bed.

This was unusual.

When Hurstwood decided to go, he retired, as usual, without a light.

It was then that he discovered Carrie's absence.
"That's funny," he said; "maybe she's sitting up." He gave the matter no more thought, but slept.