Ervin never intended to be kind to people who were of no use to him. He did his job professionally and neatly. But, his wife is also his dignity. He had asked the servants to treat his wife well, but they did completely the opposite of that order when Ervin was not at home. He didn't know that his wife was being abused every time he was not at home. His wife is his dignity, he won't let other people bring down his dignity, not because he cares about his wife.