Page 62 of A Perfect Stranger

W ickham was glad to see his wife. He did not love her, of course, but he had always been able to count on her support. In his present situation, he needed that support more than ever. As a result, he held her while she wept, awkwardly patting her hair and her back.

When he thought he had done enough, he said, “Control yourself, now, Evelina, we have not much time before the old witch comes back.”

Sniffing back her tears, Evelina said, “Of course, George. I brought money.”

“Money! Excellent. How much?”

“Twenty-five pounds!”

“Twenty – twenty-five pounds? That is all?”

“All??” Evelina was confused. It had taken her quite a long time to save up that much money.

“Evelina, I have been arrested for debt and the debt amounts to five thousand pounds.”

The two stared at one another.

“George, that is an impossible sum.”

“I know.” He thought quickly. He could at least use her twenty-five pounds to purchase himself some decent food. “Give me the money.”

“But –“

“Evelina. Give. Me. The. Money.” His voice was tight.

She knew better than to argue with him, and so she silently reached into her skirt pocket and gave him the notes.

Mrs. Harvester returned to the room at this moment, saying, “Out with you, Mrs. Wickham.”

“When may I return to visit my husband?”

“Depends,” Mrs. Harvester shrugged.

“On what?”

“He cannot stay here forever, ya know. We give ‘em some time to get their debts repaid, but once we know there is no money, off he goes to the court and then to prison.”

“Money! I brought him twenty-five pounds; surely that will buy him some time!”

“Twenty-five pounds? Oh, it will indeed. Will you be wanting some dinner this night, then, Wickham? I have some lovely beef and a flagon of wine.”

Wickham’s mouth watered. “Yes, I want dinner.”

“I will have it ready for you. But you, Mrs. Wickham, out you go now.”

***

The lovely beef and the flagon of wine cost Mr. Wickham two pounds and ten shillings. The following day, he was offered roast chicken and beer, which cost him two pounds and fifteen shillings. The day after that was meat pies, which cost one pound and ten shillings. By the end of the following week, Evelina’s painfully hoarded twenty-five pounds was gone.

Mrs. Harvester, having harvested all of Wickham’s available money, now needed his room for the next occupant. She called for the constable to take Wickham to court.