There was sharp pain in the cry, and she swung round, flinging out her hands with a pathetic gesture of entreaty. He did not take them as she half hoped he would; but stood looking at her in a thoughtful silence. Then, "If you care as much as that," he said slowly, "it lies with you not to fling away the thing you care for. Will you please let me see those bills."
"They are on the bureau. You can take them."
She turned again to the mantelpiece, for her lips were not quite steady.
"You were going to tell me about them, perhaps?"
"N—no. I wasn't."
He sighed; and taking up the papers, looked through them absently, too deeply troubled to grasp their contents.
"Are these all?" he asked quietly.
"Nearly all."
"Have you any idea of the total?"
"About six hundred rupees."