Chapter 31

           ArcherhadbeenstunnedbyoldCatherine’snews.ItwasonlynaturalthatMadameOlenskashouldhavehastenedfromWashingtoninresponsetohergrandmother’ssummons;butthatsheshouldhavedecidedtoremainunderherroof—especiallynowthatMrs.Mingotthadalmostregainedherhealth—waslesseasytoexplain.ArcherwassurethatMadameOlenska’sdecisionhadnotbeeninfluencedbythechangeinherfinancialsituation.Heknewtheexactfigureofthesmallincomewhichherhusbandhadallowedherattheirseparation.Withouttheadditionofhergrandmother’sallowanceitwashardlyenoughtoliveon,inanysenseknowntotheMingottvocabulary;andnowthatMedoraManson,whosharedherlife,hadbeenruined,suchapittancewouldbarelykeepthetwowomenclothedandfed.YetArcherwasconvincedthatMadameOlenskahadnotacceptedhergrandmother’sofferfrominterestedmotives.Shehadtheheedlessgenerosityandthespasmodicextravaganceofpersonsusedtolargefortunes,andindifferenttomoney;butshecouldgowithoutmanythingswhichherrelationsconsideredindispensable,andMrs.LovellMingottandMrs.WellandhadoftenbeenheardtodeplorethatanyonewhohadenjoyedthecosmopolitanluxuriesofCountOlenski’sestablishmentsshouldcaresolittleabout"howthingsweredone."Moreover,asArcherknew,severalmonthshadpassedsinceherallowancehadbeencutoff;yetintheintervalshehadmadenoefforttoregainhergrandmother’sfavour.Thereforeifshehadchangedhercourseitmustbeforadifferentreason.Hedidnothavefartoseekforthatreason.