She was deeply distressed at owing herself so much to Miss Egerton, and now also so large a debt to Arthur Noel.

She had worked hard, and had done wonderfully well considering, but nevertheless at the present moment, owing to adverse circumstances, she was plunged in debt in many directions, and saw little hope of repaying what she owed.

Life seemed very difficult to Primrose just then, and hot tears rose to her eyes.
Should she go still farther in debt, and give up the great struggle to be independent?
Oh, no, she could not--she could not.

Her pride rose up in rebellion; her passionate longing to be free and her own mistress, to be beholden to no one for the necessaries of life, was too strong to be easily crushed.

Better the dullest life, better be a "continual reader" all her days than take the money of strangers.