to live in London as rich men usually do live. "Is he?" said
she. "It may seem odd to you, Lady Aylmer, but I do not think that a
word has ever passed between me and your son as to the amount of his
income."

"Not odd at all, my dear. Young ladies are always thoughtless about
those things, and when they are looking to be married think that
money will come out of the skies."

"If you mean that I have been looking to be married--"

"Well;--expecting. I suppose you have been expecting it." Then she
paused; but as Clara said nothing, she went on. "Of course, Frederic
has got my sister's moiety of the Perivale property;--about eight
hundred a year, or something of that sort, when all deductions are
made. He will have the other moiety when I die, and if you and he can
be satisfied to wait for that event,--which may not perhaps be very
long--" Then there was another pause, indicative of the melancholy
natural to such a suggestion, during which Clara looked at Lady
Aylmer, and made up her mind that her ladyship would live for the
next twenty-five years at least. "If you can wait for that," she
continued, "it may be all very well, and though you will be poor
people, in Frederic's rank of life, you will be able to live."

"That will be so far fortunate," said Clara.

"But you'll have to wait," said Lady Aylmer, turning upon her
companion almost fiercely. "That is, you certainly will have to do so
if you are to depend upon Frederic's income alone."

"I have nothing of my own,--as he knows; absolutely nothing."

"That does not seem to be quite so clear," said Lady Aylmer, speaking
now very cautiously,--or rather with a purpose of great caution; "I
don't think that that is quite so clear. Frederic has been telling me
that there seems to be some sort of a doubt about the settlement of
the Belton estate."

"There is no sort of doubt whatsoever;--no shadow of a doubt. He is
quite mistaken."

"Don't be in such a hurry, my dear. It is not likely that you
yourself should be a very good lawyer."

"Lady Aylmer, I must be in a hurry lest there should be any mistake
about this. There is no question here for lawyers. Frederic must have
been misled by a word or two which I said to him with quite another
purpose. Everybody concerned knows that the Belton estate goes to my
cousin Will. My poor father was quite aware of it."

"That is all very well; and pray remember, my dear, that you need not
attack me in this way. I am endeavouri