honoured much, honoured that

[Quang Hai]

I am reading W. Trevor shortstory. The girl was being fond of a guy - Sebastian. However she married with another. At the wedding,

"At her wedding she had guessed they would lose touch, and in turn he had probably guessed that that was, sensibly, what she wanted. Sebastian, who had never honoured much, honoured that. When marriage occurs, the past clams up, lines are drawn beneath a sub-total.".

In the phrase, I do not understand two points which underlined. Please could someone explain what meaning of underline words. thanks

 

[probus]

Honour is used here as a synonym for respect. Sebastian has never tended to respect much of anything, but at least he understood and respected the very reasonable assumption that she would not wish to have contact with him after she married someone else.

Drawing a line beneath a sub-total is a metaphor for treating a part of one's past life as closed, something never to be discussed or even mentioned. William Trevor was writing in those ancient days when people did their accounts with pen and ink.

 

[Quang Hai]

Probus, Thanks for your clear explanation

 

[probus]

You are welcome. No need to post a thank you note -- just hit the like button. That's all we crave.

 

[5jj]

The girl [STRIKE]was being[/STRIKE] had been fond of a guy - Sebastian. However she married [STRIKE]with[/STRIKE] another.

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