# Respite explained — New Grub Street > Chapter companion for New Grub Street by George Gissing. ## What happens Edwin Reardon finishes his novel 'Margaret Home' after a grueling fourteen-day writing sprint, despite physical ailments and financial desperation. He pawns his watch and sells books to survive. After delivering the manuscript, he borrows £5 from Carter, which causes tension with Amy, who is humiliated by the disclosure of their poverty. The publishers offer £75 for the copyright, a sum that confirms Reardon's literary failure. The chapter ends with a strained Christmas and growing marital discord over money. ## Themes in this chapter ### Poverty and Class Reardon's physical suffering, pawning, and borrowing highlight the crushing reality of literary poverty and its social shame. ### Marriage and Money Amy's humiliation and coldness toward Reardon's borrowing reveal how financial strain erodes marital affection and trust. ### Ambition and Failure Reardon's completion of the novel is a hollow victory; the low offer of £75 confirms his sense of professional failure. ## Character check-ins ### Edwin Reardon Finishes his novel in physical pain and financial desperation, borrows money from Carter, and faces humiliation and marital strain. ### Amy Reardon Shows vexation and shame at Reardon's borrowing from Carter, exhibits coldness and hardness as poverty strains the marriage. ### Mr. Carter Lends Reardon £5 after initial reluctance, displays good-natured but embarrassed generosity. ## Key lines > The last volume was written in fourteen days. In this achievement Reardon rose almost to heroic pitch, for he had much to contend with beyond the mere labour of composition. Reardon wrote the final volume in just two weeks, a feat made heroic by his physical ailments and financial worries. _Highlights the desperate speed and suffering behind his literary labor._ > He took his watch to the pawnbroker’s (you can imagine that it would not stand as security for much), and sold a few more books. He pawned his watch and sold some books to raise money, though they were worth little. _Illustrates the depths of his poverty and the indignity of selling personal possessions._ > If only all the events of the last few years could be undone, and he, with no soul dependent upon him, be once more earning his pound a week in this room! Reardon wistfully wishes he could return to his earlier, simpler life as a clerk earning a pound a week, free from marital and financial burdens. _Reveals his regret over marriage and his longing for past independence._ > Blessed money! root of all good, until the world invent some saner economy. Money is celebrated as the source of all good, at least until a better economic system is devised. _Sarcastic commentary on the necessity of money for survival and happiness._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/new_grub_street_se/chapters/xi-respite - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/new_grub_street_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/new_grub_street_se/chapters