ntered the room and handed a card to his
employer. "Here's the heir himself," said Mr. Green.

"What heir?"

"Will Belton;--the heir of the property which Mr. Amedroz holds."
Captain Aylmer had soon explained that he was not personally
acquainted with Mr. William Belton; but, having heard much about
him, declared himself anxious to make the acquaintance. Our friend
Will, therefore, was ushered into the room, and the two rivals for
Clara's favour were introduced to each other. Each had heard much
of the other, and each had heard of the other from the same person.
But Captain Aylmer knew much more as to Belton than Belton knew in
respect to him. Aylmer knew that Belton had proposed to Clara and had
been rejected; and he knew also that Belton was now again going down
to Somersetshire.

"You are to spend your Christmas, I believe, with our friends at
Belton Castle?" said the Captain.

"Yes;--and am now on my way there. I believe you know them
also,--intimately." Then there was some explanation as to the
Winterfield connection, a few remarks as to the precarious state of
the old squire's health, a message or two from Captain Aylmer, which
of course were of no importance, and the Captain took his leave.

Then Green and Belton became very comfortably intimate in their
conversation, calling each other Will and Joe,--for they were old
and close friends. And they discussed matters in that cozy tone of
confidential intercourse which is so directly at variance with the
tones used by men when they ordinarily talk of business. "He has
brought me good news for your friend, Miss Amedroz," said the lawyer.

"What good news?"

"That aunt of hers left her fifteen hundred pounds, after all. Or
rather, she did not leave it, but desired on her death-bed that it
might be given."

"That's the same thing, I suppose?"

"Oh quite;--that is to say, it's the same thing if the person who has
to hand over the money does not dispute the legacy. But it shows how
the old lady's conscience pricked her at last. And after all it was a
shabby sum, and should have been three times as much."

"Fifteen hundred pounds! And that is all she will have when her
father dies?"

"Every farthing, Will. You'll take all the rest."

"I wish she wasn't going to have that."

"Why? Why on earth should you of all men grudge her such a moderate
maintenance, seeing that you have not got to pay it?"

"It isn't a maintenance. How could it be a maintenance for s