I do n't mean to waste your money , and I did n't think those little things would count up so . I ca n't resist them when I see Sallie buying all she wants , and pitying me because I do n't . I try to be contented , but it is hard , and I 'm tired of being poor . '' The last words were spoken so low she thought he did not hear them , but he did , and they wounded him deeply , for he had denied himself many pleasures for Meg 's sake . She could have bitten her tongue out the minute she had said it , for John pushed the books away and got up , saying with a little quiver in his voice , `` I was afraid of this . I do my best , Meg . '' If he had scolded her , or even shaken her , it would not have broken her heart like those few words . She ran to him and held him close , crying , with repentant tears , `` Oh , John , my dear , kind , hard-working boy . I did n't mean it ! It was so wicked , so untrue and ungrateful , how could I say it ! Oh , how could I say it ! '' He was very kind , forgave her readily , and did not utter one reproach , but Meg knew that she had done and said a thing which would not be forgotten soon , although he might never allude to it again . She had promised to love him for better or worse , and then she , his wife , had reproached him with his poverty , after spending his earnings recklessly . It was dreadful , and the worst of it was John went on so quietly afterward , just as if nothing had happened , except that he stayed in town later , and worked at night when she had gone to cry herself to sleep . A week of remorse nearly made Meg sick , and the discovery that John had countermanded the order for his new greatcoat reduced her to a state of despair which was pathetic to behold . He had simply said , in answer to her surprised inquiries as to the change , `` I ca n't afford it , my dear . '' Meg said no more , but a few minutes after he found her in the hall with her face buried in the old greatcoat , crying as if her heart would break . They had a long talk that night , and Meg learned to love her husband better for his poverty , because it seemed to have made a man of him , given him the strength and courage to fight his own way , and taught him a tender patience with which to bear and comfort the natural longings and failures of those he loved . Next day she put her pride in her pocket , went to Sallie , told the truth , and asked her to buy the silk as a favor . The good-natured Mrs. Moffat willingly did so , and had the delicacy not to make her a present of it immediately afterward .
Then XXXXX ordered home the greatcoat , and when John arrived , she put it on , and asked him how he liked her new silk gown .
John Meg Moffat Sallie minutes night pocket quiver things week