One day she went up to Mrs.Heale.Old Heale owed her thirteen pounds and more: but that was not the least reason for paying.

His cholera patients had not paid him; and whether Heale had the money by him or not, he was not going to pay his debts till other people paid theirs.

Mrs.Harvey stormed; Mrs.Heale gave her as good as she brought; and Mrs.Harvey threatened to County Court her husband; whereon Mrs.Heale, _en revanche_ dragged out the books, and displayed to the poor widow's horror-struck eyes an account for medicine and attendance, on her and Grace, which nearly swallowed up the debt.

Poor Grace was overwhelmed when her mother came home and upbraided her, in her despair, with being a burden.

Was she not a burden?
Must she not be one henceforth?
No, she would take in needlework, labour in the fields, heave ballast among the coarse pauper-girls on the quay-pool, anything rather: but how to meet the present difficulty?
"We must sell our furniture, mother!" "For a quarter of what it's worth?
Never, girl! No! The Lord will provide," said she, between her clenched teeth, with a sort of hysteric chuckle.