She, and everyone else, thought she ruled him; in fact, she not only did not rule him, but had not even influence with him in the smallest trifle of the matters he regarded as important.
The last time he had looked carefully at her--many, many years before--he had thought her beautiful; he assumed thenceforth that she was still beautiful, and was therefore proud of her.

In like manner he had made up his mind favorably to his children.

As the bills grew heavier and heavier, from year to year, with the wife and two children assiduously expanding them, he paid none the less cheerfully.

"There is some satisfaction in paying up for them," reflected he.

"At least a man can feel that he's getting his money's worth." And he contrasted his luck with the bad luck of so many men who had to "pay up" for "homely frumps, that look worse the more they spend." But Arthur was replying to Mrs.Whitney's remark with a bitter "Nobody can do anything with father; he's narrow and obstinate.