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 Sallie 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 . When she got home , she tried to assuage the pangs of remorse by spreading forth the lovely silk , but it looked less silvery now , did n't become her , after all , and the words ` fifty dollars ' seemed stamped like a pattern down each breadth . She put it away , but it haunted her , not delightfully as a new dress should , but dreadfully like the ghost of a folly that was not easily laid . When John got out his books that night , Meg 's heart sank , and for the first time in her married life , she was afraid of her husband . The kind , brown eyes looked as if they could be stern , and though he was unusually merry , she fancied he had found her out , but did n't mean to let her know it . The house bills were all paid , the books all in order . John had praised her , and was undoing the old pocketbook which they called the ` bank ' , when Meg , knowing that it was quite empty , stopped his hand , saying nervously ... `` You have n't seen my private expense book yet . '' John never asked to see it , but she always insisted on his doing so , and used to enjoy his masculine amazement at the queer things women wanted , and made him guess what piping was , demand fiercely the meaning of a hug-me-tight , or wonder how a little thing composed of three rosebuds , a bit of velvet , and a pair of strings , could possibly be a bonnet , and cost six dollars . That night he looked as if he would like the fun of quizzing her figures and pretending to be horrified at her extravagance , as he often did , being particularly proud of his prudent wife . The little book was brought slowly out and laid down before him . Meg got behind his chair under pretense of smoothing the wrinkles out of his tired forehead , and standing there , she said , with her panic increasing with every word ... `` John , dear , I 'm ashamed to show you my book , for I 've really been dreadfully extravagant lately . I go about so much I must have things , you know , and Sallie advised my getting it , so I did , and my New Year 's money will partly pay for it , but I was sorry after I had done it , for I knew you 'd think it wrong in me . '' John laughed , and drew her round beside him , saying goodhumoredly , `` Do n't go and hide . I wo n't beat you if you have got a pair of killing boots .
I 'm rather proud of my wife 's feet , and do n't mind if she does XXXXX eight or nine dollars for her boots , if they are good ones . ''
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