Sowerby, seeing that she did not comprehend at all the
nature of the renewing of a bill. The only part to her of importance
in the matter was the amount of money which her husband would be
called upon to pay; that, and her strong hope, which was already a
conviction, that he would never again incur such debts.
"And how much is it, dearest, altogether?"
"These men claim nine hundred pounds of me."
"Oh, dear! that is a terrible sum."
"And then there is the hundred and fifty which I have borrowed from
the bank--the price of the horse, you know; and there are some other
debts,--not a great deal, I think; but people will now look for every
shilling that is due to them. If I have to pay it all, it will be
twelve or thirteen hundred pounds."
"That will be as much as a year's income, Mark; even with the stall."
That was the only word of reproach she said--if that could be called
a reproach.
"Yes," he said; "and it is claimed by men who will have no pity in
exacting it at any sacrifice, if they have the power. And to think
that I should have incurred all this debt without having received
anything for it. Oh, Fanny, what will you think of me!" But she swore
to him that she would think nothing of it--that she would never bear
it in her mind against him--that it could have no effect in lessening
her trust in him.
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