So it naturally fell out that Meg got into the way of gadding and gossiping with her friend . Seeing Sallie 's pretty things made her long for such , and pity herself because she had not got them . Sallie was very kind , and often offered her the coveted trifles , but Meg declined them , knowing that John would n't like it , and then this foolish little woman went and did what John disliked even worse . She knew her husband 's income , and she loved to feel that he trusted her , not only with his happiness , but what some men seem to value more -- his money . She knew where it was , was free to take what she liked , and all he asked was that she should keep account of every penny , pay bills once a month , and remember that she was a poor man 's wife . Till now she had done well , been prudent and exact , kept her little account books neatly , and showed them to him monthly without fear . But that autumn the serpent got into Meg 's paradise , and tempted her like many a modern Eve , not with apples , but with dress . Meg did n't like to be pitied and made to feel poor . It irritated her , but she was ashamed to confess it , and now and then she tried to console herself by buying something pretty , so that Sallie need n't think she had to economize . She always felt wicked after it , for the pretty things were seldom necessaries , but then they cost so little , it was n't worth worrying about , so the trifles increased unconsciously , and in the shopping excursions she was no longer a passive looker-on . But the trifles cost more than one would imagine , and when she cast up her accounts at the end of the month the sum total rather scared her . John was busy that month and left the bills to her , the next month he was absent , but the third he had a grand quarterly settling up , and Meg never forgot it . A few days before she had done a dreadful thing , and it weighed upon her conscience . Sallie had been buying silks , and Meg longed for a new one , just a handsome light one for parties , her black silk was so common , and thin things for evening wear were only proper for girls . Aunt March usually gave the sisters a present of twenty-five dollars apiece at New Year 's . That was only a month to wait , and here was a lovely violet silk going at a bargain , and she had the money , if she only dared to take it . John always said what was his was hers , but would he think it right to spend not only the prospective five-and-twenty , but another five-and-twenty out of the household fund ? That was the question . Sallie had urged her to do it , had offered to lend the money , and with the best intentions in life had tempted Meg beyond her strength . In an evil moment the shopman held up the lovely , shimmering folds , and said , `` A bargain , I assure , you , ma'am . ''
She answered , `` I 'll take it , '' and it was cut off and paid for , and XXXXX had exulted , and she had laughed as if it were a thing of no consequence , and driven away , feeling as if she had stolen something , and the police were after her .
John Sallie days dollars evening looker-on month monthly quarterly third