p-stairs. The maid had brought her a cup of
tea, and she seated herself at her fire, turning over in her mind the
different members of the household in which she found herself. It
would never do. She told herself over and over again that it would
never come to pass that that woman should be her mother-in-law, or
that that other woman should be her sister. It was manifest to her
that she was distasteful to them; and she had not lost a moment in
assuring herself that they were distasteful to her. What purpose
could it answer that she should strive,--not to like them, for no
such strife was possible,--but to appear to like them? The whole
place and everything about it was antipathetic to her. Would it not
be simply honest to Captain Aylmer that she should tell him so at
once, and go away? Then she remembered that Frederic had not spoken
to her a single word since she had been under his father's roof. What
sort of welcome would have been accorded to her had she chosen to go
down to Plaistow Hall?

At half-past seven she made her way by herself down-stairs. In this
there was some difficulty, as she remembered nothing of the rooms
below, and she could not at first find a servant. But a man at last
did come to her in the hall, and by him she was shown into the
drawing-room. Here she was alone for a few minutes. As she looked
about her, she thought that no room she had ever seen had less of the
comfort of habitation. It was not here that she had met Lady Aylmer
before dinner. There had, at any rate, been in that other room work
things, and the look of life which life gives to a room. But here
there was no life. The furniture was all in its place, and everything
was cold and grand and comfortless. They were making company of her
at Aylmer Park! Clara was intelligent in such matters, and understood
it all thoroughly.

Lady Aylmer was the first person to come to her. "I hope my maid has
been with you," said she;--to which Clara muttered something intended
for thanks. "You'll find Richards a very clever woman, and quite a
proper person."

"I don't at all doubt that."

"She has been here a good many years, and has perhaps little ways of
her own,--but she means to be obliging."

"I shall give her very little trouble, Lady Aylmer. I am used to
dress myself." I am afraid this was not exactly true as to Clara's
past habits; but she could dress herself, and intended to do so in
future, and in this way justified the assertion to he