The poor shopkeeper had a large family, and Mrs Milvain, notwithstanding her own position, had never felt able to press him; her relative, however, often spoke of the business, and declared his intention of paying whenever he could.
'You can't recover by law now, you know,' said Jasper.
'But we have a right to the money, law or no law.

He must pay it.' 'He will simply refuse--and be justified.

Poverty doesn't allow of honourable feeling, any more than of compassion.

I'm sorry you wrote like that.

You won't get anything, and you might as well have enjoyed the reputation of forbearance.' Mrs Milvain was not able to appreciate this characteristic remark.
Anxiety weighed upon her, and she became irritable.
'I am obliged to say, Jasper, that you seem rather thoughtless.