"Has Peter been paid anything?"
"Not by us. We do not pay Peter at all," replied Dolly, feeling as if the words were stabbing her.
"Who does?" said her mother quickly.
"Mr. St. Leger sent him here. He is their servant really, and they take care of him."
"I don't see how your father can content himself with that," said Mrs. Copley. "But I suppose that is one of the debts that you will pay, Dolly."
Dolly forced herself to speak very quietly, though every nerve and fibre was trembling and quivering. She said, "How, mother?"
"I suppose you know. Mr. St. Leger knows, at any rate; and your father too, it seems."
"Mother," said Dolly, sitting up a little straighter, "do you think I will pay debts in that way?"
"What other way will you pay them, then, child? what do you and your father expect? What can you do, if you have not the money?" Mrs. Copley spoke bitterly. Dolly waited a little, perhaps to bite down or swallow down some feeling.
"Mother," she said, somewhat lower, "do you think father would want me to pay his debts so?"