It is that, when I am in my grave--or somewhere else, for I know Mary does not like people to talk about being in their graves--you say it is heathenish, don't you, Mary ?--when I am where they can't find me, then, it is horrid to think that people up here will have a hold on me and a right over me still, because of debts I shall never be able to pay them." "Don't be too sure of that, Tom," said Mary, cheerfully.

"I think you will pay them yet .-- But I have heard it said," she went on, "that a man in debt never tells the truth about his debts--as if he had only the face to make them, not to talk about them: can you make a clean breast of it, Tom ?" "I don't exactly know what they are; but I always did mean to pay them, and I have some idea about them.

I don't think they would come to more than a hundred pounds." "Your mother would not hesitate to pay that for you ?" said Mary.
"I know she wouldn't; but, then, I'm thinking of Letty." He paused, and Mary waited.
"You know, when I am gone," he resumed, "there will be nothing for her but to go to my mother; and it breaks my heart to think of it.

Every sin of mine she will lay to her charge; and how am I to lie still in my grave--oh, I beg your pardon, Mary." "I will pay your debts, Tom, and gladly," said Mary, "if they don't come to much more than you say--than you think, I mean." "But, don't you see, Mary, that would be only a shifting of my debt from them to you?
Except for Letty, it would not make the thing any better." "What!" said Mary, "is there no difference between owing a thing to one who loves you and one who does not?
to one who would always be wishing you had paid him and one who is glad to have even the poor bond of a debt between you and her?
All of us who are sorry for our sins are brothers and sisters." "O Mary!" said Tom.
"But I will tell you what will be better: let your mother pay your debts, and I will look after Letty.

I will care for her like my own sister, Tom." "Then I shall die happy," said Tom; and from that day began to recover.
Many who would pay money to keep a man alive or to deliver him from pain would pay nothing to take a killing load off the shoulders of his mind.