Judith,
My understanding is that money expressly settled on the wife and children through properly-drafted marriage articles would not be subject to the husband's subsequent debts. While we don't know exactly what the marriage articles say in this case, it sounds as if the interest on the 10,000 pounds is available to Sir Walter during his lifetime, and that the principal will be transferred to the daughters when he dies.
This is a similar arrangement to Pride and Prejudice, in which 5,000 pounds are settled by marriage articles on the Bennet daughters. When Lydia elopes, Mr. Bennet promises Wickham 100 pounds annually during his lifetime, and that Lydia will receive 1,000 pounds (i.e. an equal share of the 5,000 pound settlement) when Mr. Bennet dies.
Similarly here, it sounds as if Anne's marriage articles will offer some small amount of money to Captain Wentworth during Sir Walter's lifetime, and that Anne will then receive her share of the 10,000 pounds when he dies.
- Alan -
