Mixed Marriage by Cadell Elizabeth

Author:Cadell, Elizabeth [Cadell, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Friendly Air Publishing
Published: 2016-11-05T16:00:00+00:00

Part III

Wednesday, September 13th

Financial crisis owing to discovery by Afonso that Bank account overdrawn; nothing to do with gas stove, which paid for by estate; due, Afonso said, to my extravagance and general inability to Manage. Told him that my extravagance consisted of buying a few metres of inexpensive material to be made up into Maternity wear until my Mother could send out from England; other expenditure his, with exception of dry stores ordered by me from Lisbon as instructed by him. Argument ended by decision to sit down and draw up Budget. Did so. Budget showed that salary sufficient only for basic needs; overdrawn state shown to be caused by fact that I had paid bills hitherto passed by Afonso to estate. I said wanted salary large enough to live on; Afonso said present salary very generous; I pointed out that Budget didn’t even stretch to clothing family, him or me or coming child; proposed showing Budget to Papa. Afonso said no, had always found salary adequate and saw no reason for asking for increase. I said salary had never been adequate; had been in nature of allowance, adequate only because Afonso had charged most of his expenses to estate; now things different, and essential for us to get living wage and live on it; any other course simply cadging. Added that what was needed was meeting of himself, self, Papa and Mama to discuss sensibly and clearly fair wage, after which presents and favours better reduced to minimum and confined to festive occasions. Budget, after more argument, drawn up again on more realistic lines and carried by Afonso to Papa’s study. Mama and I called to meeting, money openly and honestly discussed, list at my request drawn up of exactly what chargeable to estate and what not; Papa said all his fault this step not taken earlier; Afonso said no, his fault for drifting; Mama said her fault for not having spoken to me at first opportunity about household expenses. Final agreement: cook, housemaid, parlourmaid, laundress and gardener our servants; no others to be used; if called upon for help on special occasions, to be paid by us and not by estate. Journeys by Land Rover strictly on estate business to be paid by estate funds, all other journeys our own expense. Mama pointed out that this would limit our visits to Lisbon, which not good thing; Papa said was sure that I would give them pleasure of frequent visits and make saving in other directions. Meeting interesting, as self only one present who accustomed to face fact that money useful commodity but liable to come to end, leaving no more available anywhere. Felt that Afonso, with Papa and Mama solidly behind him, constitutionally unable to view finances seriously, but self determined to keep within salary and achieve feeling of independence, even if illusory.

Thursday September 14th.

Drove back to Reinaldo with Afonso; Mama and Papa following, as Mama in need of rest after wedding. Afonso drove at infuriatingly slow pace, due to anxiety about dislodging baby.

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