“But I could not—It would be quite shocking in me—!” she stammered.
“Are you imagining that you have become a rich woman overnight?” Carlyon inquired. “I wish it may be found so, but I fear it will be no such thing. You are more likely to discover that you are liable for God knows how many debts.”
The widow sought in vain for words in which to express her feelings.
“Lord, yes!” said Nicky cheerfully. “Eustace had never a feather to fly with, and it’s my belief the gull gropers had their talons fast in him!”
“And I,” said Elinor, controlling her voice with a strong effort, “am in the happy position of inheriting these debts?”
“No, no!” said John. “They must be paid out of the estate, of course! Fortunately, he could not mortgage the land—not that you will get much for it if you should decide to sell it, for since my brother ceased to administer it everything has been allowed to go to ruin.”
“But what a charming prospect for me!” Elinor said, with awful irony. “Saddled with a ruined estate, crushed by debt, widowed before ever I was a wife—it is the most abominable thing I ever heard of!”
“Oh, it will scarcely prove to be as bad as that!”
Carlyon said. “When all is done, I hope you will find yourself with a respectable competence.”
“Indeed, I hope so too, my lord, for I begin to think I shall have earned it!” she retorted.