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592 THE ADVENTURES OF PHILIP
when the children were in question ; and had them arrayed in all
sorts of fine clothes ; and stitched and hemmed all day and night to
decorate their little persons ; and in reply to the remonstrances of
the matrons her friends, showed how it was impossible children
could be dressed for less cost. If anything ailed them, quick, the
doctor must be sent for. Not worthy Goodenough, who came
without a fee, and pooh-poohed her alarms and anxieties ; but dear
Mr. Bland, who had a feeling heart, and was himself a father of
children, and who supported those children by the produce of the
pills, draughts, powders, visits, which he bestowed on all families
into whose doors he entered. Bland's sympathy was very consolatory
; but it was found to be very costly at the end of the year.
"And, what then ?" says Charlotte, with kindling cheeks. "Do
you suppose we should grudge that money, which was to give health
to our dearest dearest babies 1 No. You can't have such a bad
opinion of me as that !" And accordingly Mr. Bland received a
nice little annuity from our friends. Philip had a joke about his
wife's housekeeping which perhaps may apply to other young women
who are kept by over-watchful mothers too much in statu pupillari.
When they were married, or about to be married, Philip asked
Charlotte what she would order for dinner. She promptly said she
would order leg of mutton. " And after leg of mutton ?" " Leg of
beef, to be sure !" says Mrs. Charlotte, looking very pleased and
knowing. And the fact is, as this little housekeeper was obliged
demurely to admit, their household bills increased prodigiously
after they left Thornhaugh Street. " And I can't understand, my
dear, how the grocer's book should mount up so ; and the butterman's,
and the beer," &c. &c. We have often seen the pretty little
head bent over the dingy volumes, puzzling, puzzling: and the
eldest child would hold up a warning finger to ours, and tell them
to be very quiet, as mamma was at her " atounts."
And now, I grieve to say, money became scarce for the payment
of these accounts ; and though Philip fancied he hid his anxieties
from his wife, be sure she loved him too much to be deceived by
one of the clumsiest hypocrites in the world. Only, being a much
cleverer hypocrite than her husband, she pretended to be deceived,
and acted her part BO well that poor Philip was mortified with her
gaiety, and chose to fancy his wife was indifferent to their misfortunes.
She ought not to be so smiling and happy, he thought ;
and, as usual, bemoaned his lot to his friends. "I come home
racked with care, and thinking of those inevitable bills ; I shudder,
sir, at every note that lies on the hall table, and would tremble as
I dashed them open as they do on the stage. But I laugh and put
on a jaunty air, and humbug Char. And I hear her singing about