What did Sylvia mean when she asked Marion how much Howard settled on her? Marion answered that she made Howard pay for what he wanted, while Sylvia made him pay for what he didn't want.
What did she mean by that?
Also, did Peggy work? She talks about her own little income and giving Johnny some of it. She says he is almost too ashamed to take that and Sylvia said he is ashamed it isn't more.
I gathered Marion meant that Howard proposed some kind of cash settlement to Sylvia to 'prod' her into divorce whereas he'd probably been showering Ms. Aaron's with gifts and the marriage proposal (i.e. then she'd be taken care of by him).
As to Peggy, my impression is that she was receiving some kind of annuity or 'allowance' from her wealthy family.
'There’s a name for you ladies, but it’s not used - Outside a kennel! (Crystal Allen in The Women)'
I figured the amount Howard had to pay was in the divorce settlement, and that he had given Miriam a lot of gifts and probably paid for the divorce/time in Reno and an apartment in NY. It seems the place was for rich women, and Miriam was not, so the cost was probably covered by Howard.
I agree Peggy was living off her inheritance and John resented it.