Then he seized a favorable hour, and produced his book.
"Lillie," he said, "I want to make you understand a little about our expenditures and income." "Oh, dreadful, John! don't, pray! I never had any head for things of that kind." "But, Lillie, _please_ let me show you," persisted John.

"I've made it just as simple as can be." [Illustration: "I never had the least head for figures."] "O John! now--I just--can't--there now! Don't bring that book now; it'll just make me low-spirited and cross.

I never had the least head for figures; mamma always said so; and if there _is_ any thing that seems to me perfectly dreadful, it is accounts.

I don't think it's any of a woman's business--it's all _man's_ work, and men have got to see to it.

Now, _please_ don't," she added, coming to him coaxingly, and putting her arm round his neck.
"But, you see, Lillie," John persevered, in a pleading tone,--"you see, all these alterations that have been made in the house have involved very serious expenses; and then, too, we are living at a very different rate of expense from what we ever lived before"-- "There it is, John! Now, you oughtn't to reproach me with it; for you know it was your own idea.