ame time
that his visit to her father would on that account be all the more
welcome.

"Are you going to her now?" he asked, as Clara got up immediately
after breakfast. "I shall be in the house all the morning, and if you
want me you will of course send for me."

"She may perhaps like to see you."

"I will come up every now and again. I would remain there altogether,
only I should be in the way." Then he got a newspaper and made
himself comfortable over the fire, while she went up to her weary
task in her aunt's room.

Neither on that day nor on the next did the lawyer come, and on
the following morning all earthly troubles were over with Mrs.
Winterfield. It was early on the Sunday morning that she died, and
late on the Saturday evening Mr. Palmer had sent up to say that
he had been detained at Taunton, but that he would wait on Mrs.
Winterfield early on the Monday morning. On the Friday the poor lady
had said much on the subject, but had been comforted by an assurance
from her nephew that the arrangement should be carried out exactly
as she wished it, whether the codicil was or was not added to the
will. To Clara she said nothing more on the subject, nor at such a
time did Captain Aylmer feel that he could offer her any assurance
on the matter. But Clara knew that the will was not altered; and
though at the time she was not thinking much about money, she had,
nevertheless, very clearly made up her own mind as to her own
conduct. Nothing should induce her to take a present of fifteen
hundred pounds,--or, indeed, of as many pence from Captain Aylmer.
During those hours of sickness in the house they had been much thrown
together, and no one could have been kinder or more gentle to her
than he had been. He had come to call her Clara, as people will do
when joined together in such duties, and had been very pleasant as
well as affectionate in his manner with her. It had seemed to her
that he also wished to take upon himself the cares and love of an
adopted brother. But as an adopted brother she would have nothing
to do with him. The two men whom she liked best in the world would
assume each the wrong place; and between them both she felt that she
would be left friendless.

On the Saturday afternoon they had both surmised how it was going to
be with Mrs. Winterfield, and Captain Aylmer had told Mr. Palmer that
he feared his coming on the Monday would be useless. He explained
also what was required, and declared that