All were busy at home, John absent till night, and nothing to do but sew, or read, or potter about.

So it naturally fell out that Meg got into the way of gadding and gossiping with her friend.
Seeing Sallie's pretty things made her long for such, and pity herself because she had not got them.

Sallie was very kind, and often offered her the coveted trifles, but Meg declined them, knowing that John wouldn't like it, and then this foolish little woman went and did what John disliked even worse.
She knew her husband's income, and she loved to feel that he trusted her, not only with his happiness, but what some men seem to value more--his money.

She knew where it was, was free to take what she liked, and all he asked was that she should keep account of every penny, pay bills once a month, and remember that she was a poor man's wife.

Till now she had done well, been prudent and exact, kept her little account books neatly, and showed them to him monthly without fear.