"The first week passed away in the most delightful manner. We
stayed at home, we worked hard, we smoked a great deal. I have
found among this mountain of papers a blank sheet on which is
written,--
Beatrix,
A Drama in Five Acts,
By Henry Murger,
Played at the ---- Theatre on the ---- day of 18--.
This sheet was torn out of an enormous blank copy-book; for you
were guilty of the execrable habit of using all our paper to write
nothing else but titles of dramas; you wrote 'Played' as seriously
as could be, just to see what effect the title-page would produce.
Our paper disappeared too fast in this way. Luckily, when all of
it had disappeared, you discovered, Heaven knows where or how,
some old atlas of geography whose alternate leaves were blank,--a
discovery which enabled us to do without the stationer.
"Hard times began to press after the first week flew away. We had
a long discussion, in which each hurled at the other reproaches on
the spendthrift prodigality with which we threw away our money.
The discussion ended in our agreeing, that, the moment the next
instalment of our income should be received, I should keep a
severe account of our expenses, in order that no more quarrels
should disturb the harmony of our household, each of us taking
care every day to examine the accounts.
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