George knit his brow. He was falling into thought.
"I must get rid of Chattaway," she resumed. "He has been weighing us down all these years like an incubus; and now that emancipation has nearly come, were anything to delay it, I should—I think I should go mad."
"I hope and trust nothing will delay it," answered George. "I am more anxious to get rid of Chattaway than, I think, even you can be. As to Treve, his debts must wait."
"But it would be more desirable that he should not contract them."
"Of course. But how are we to prevent his contracting them?"
"He ought to prevent it himself. You did not contract debts."
"I!" he rejoined, in surprise. "I had no opportunity of doing so. Work and responsibility were thrown upon me before I was old enough to think of pleasure: and they kept me steady."
"You were not naturally inclined to spend, George."
"There's no knowing what I might have acquired, had I been sent out into the world, as Treve has," he rejoined.
"It was necessary that Treve should go to college," said Mrs. Ryle, quite sharply.