Had he gone to the depth of ruin without a wife, what would it have mattered?
For years past he had been at the same kind of work,--but while he was unmarried there had been a charm in the very danger.

And as a single man he had succeeded, being sometimes utterly impecunious, but still with a capacity of living.

Now he had laden himself with a burden of which the very intensity of his love immensely increased the weight.

As for not thinking of it, that was impossible.

Of course she must help him.
Of course she must be taught how imperative it was that she should help him at once.