the house here, and that he would not--'

'Would not what?' asked the countess.

'Why, he said that he would not utterly ruin poor Frank.'

'Ruin Frank!'

'That's what he said.'

'But, surely, Arabella, it is not so bad as that? What possible reason
can there be for him to be in debt?'

'He is always talking of those elections.'

'But, my dear, Boxall Hill paid all that off. Of course Frank will not
have such an income as there was when you married into the family; we
all know that. And whom will he have to thank but his father? But
Boxall Hill paid all those debts, and why should there be any
difficulty now?'

'It was those nasty dogs, Rosina,' said the Lady Arabella.

'Well, I for one never approved of the hounds coming to Greshamsbury.
When a man has once involved his property he should not incur any
expenses that are not absolutely necessary. That is a golden rule
which Mr Gresham ought to have remembered. Indeed, I put it to him
nearly in those very words; but Mr Gresham never did, and never will
receive with common civility anything that comes from me.'