Question

The incidental expenses are so heavy she confides to an enquiring friend. Who is the speaker ? And what is she referring to ?

Answer 1

Mrs. Packletide is the speaker and she is referring to the hunting expedition that she does not want to undertake. This happened because she had been blackmailed for keeping the secret- that Mrs. Packletide had shot the goat and not the tiger!
Now she had to pay for the cottage that Miss Mebbin wanted to buy. She realised that it was a heavy price for fulfilling her desire to show off her status to others.