English
Onedollarandeighty-sevencents.Thatwasall.Andsixtycentsofitwasinpennies.
Penniessavedoneandtwoatatimebybulldozingthegrocerandthevegetablemanandthebutcheruntilone'scheeksburnedwiththesilentimputationofparsimonythatsuchclosedealingimplied.
ThreetimesDellacountedit.Onedollarandeighty-sevencents.AndthenextdaywouldbeChristmas.
Therewasclearlynothinglefttodobutflopdownontheshabbylittlecouchandhowl.SoDelladidit.
Whichinstigatesthemoralreflectionthatlifeismadeupofsobs,sniffles,andsmiles,withsnifflespredominating.
Whilethemistressofthehomeisgraduallysubsidingfromthefirststagetothesecond,takealookatthehome.
Afurnishedflatat$8perweek.Itdidnotexactlybeggardescription,butitcertainlyhadthatwordonthelook-outforthemendicancysquad.
Inthevestibulebelowwasaletter-boxintowhichnoletterwouldgo,andanelectricbuttonfromwhichnomortalfingercouldcoaxaring.
Alsoappertainingthereuntowasacardbearingthename"Mr.JamesDillinghamYoung."
The"Dillingham"hadbeenflungtothebreezeduringaformerperiodofprosperitywhenitspossessorwasbeingpaid$30perweek.
Now,whentheincomewasshrunkto$20,thelettersof"Dillingham"lookedblurred,asthoughtheywerethinkingseriouslyofcontractingtoamodestandunassumingD.
ButwheneverMr.JamesDillinghamYoungcamehomeandreachedhisflatabovehewascalled"Jim"andgreatlyhuggedbyMrs.JamesDillinghamYoung,alreadyintroducedtoyouasDella.Whichisallverygood.
Dellafinishedhercryandattendedtohercheekswiththepowderrag.
Shestoodbythewindowandlookedoutdullyatagreycatwalkingagreyfenceinagreybackyard.
To-morrowwouldbeChristmasDay,andshehadonly$1.87withwhichtobuyJimapresent.
Shehadbeensavingeverypennyshecouldformonths,withthisresult.
Twentydollarsaweekdoesn'tgofar.Expenseshadbeengreaterthanshehadcalculated.Theyalwaysare.Only$1.87tobuyapresentforJim.HerJim.
Manyahappyhourshehadspentplanningforsomethingniceforhim.Somethingfineandrareandsterling--somethingjustalittlebitneartobeingworthyofthehonourofbeingownedbyJim.
Therewasapier-glassbetweenthewindowsoftheroom.Perhapsyouhaveseenapier-glassinan$8Bat.
Averythinandveryagilepersonmay,byobservinghisreflectioninarapidsequenceoflongitudinalstrips,obtainafairlyaccurateconceptionofhislooks.Della,beingslender,hadmasteredtheart.
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