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The Egotist Considers
FortythousandofthishadbeenBeatrice’sownincome,andtherehadbeennoattempttoaccountforit:itwasallundertheheading,"Drafts,checks,andlettersofcreditforwardedtoBeatriceBlaine."Thedispersaloftherestwasratherminutelyitemized:thetaxesandimprovementsontheLakeGenevaestatehadcometoalmostninethousanddollars;thegeneralup-keep,includingBeatrice’selectricandaFrenchcar,boughtthatyear,wasoverthirty-fivethousanddollars.Therestwasfullytakencareof,andtherewereinvariablyitemswhichfailedtobalanceontherightsideoftheledger.
Inthevolumefor1912Amorywasshockedtodiscoverthedecreaseinthenumberofbondholdingsandthegreatdropintheincome.InthecaseofBeatrice’smoneythiswasnotsopronounced,butitwasobviousthathisfatherhaddevotedthepreviousyeartoseveralunfortunategamblesinoil.Verylittleoftheoilhadbeenburned,butStephenBlainehadbeenratherbadlysinged.Thenextyearandthenextandthenextshowedsimilardecreases,andBeatricehadforthefirsttimebegunusingherownmoneyforkeepingupthehouse.Yetherdoctor’sbillfor1913hadbeenoverninethousanddollars.
AbouttheexactstateofthingsMr.Bartonwasquitevagueandconfused.Therehadbeenrecentinvestments,theoutcomeofwhichwasforthepresentproblematical,andhehadanideatherewerefurtherspeculationsandexchangesconcerningwhichhehadnotbeenconsulted.
ItwasnotforseveralmonthsthatBeatricewroteAmorythefullsituation.
