English to Japanese Art/Literary Poetry & Literature

Sometimes she put her foot in it even when there were plenty of safe places to step. Sometimes Mama was lost to me, but her finder went with her. Even when Mama buttoned up, she was an open book to me. Mama feared drafts, but was always stirring up a storm. She ＊lived on an expense account＊ and disliked to pay taxes.

先ほどと同じ、『ﾌﾞﾘｷの太鼓』からです。
これ以前に帳簿をつけているといった記述はあるのですが、それで生計を立てる（live on）わけではなさそうです。食料品店のオカミといったところですから。