et hardly had time to think whether the coming of
this letter to her uncle would or would not be communicated to her
cousins; but had she thought, she would have been almost sure that
Sir Thomas would be more discreet. The whole matter was to her so
important, so secret, almost so solemn, that she could hardly imagine
that it should be discussed among the whole household. And yet she
felt a strong longing within herself to be able to talk of it to some
one. Of the two cousins Clary was certainly her favourite, and had
she been forced to consult any one, she would have consulted Clary.
But an absolute confidence in such a matter with a chosen friend,
the more delightful it might appear, was on that very account the
more difficult of attainment. It was an occasion for thought, for
doubt, and almost for dismay; and now Clary rushed into it as though
everything could be settled in a walk from Fulham to Parson's Green!
"It is very good of you to be glad, Clary," said the other,--hardly
knowing why she said this, and yet meaning it. If in truth Clary was
glad, it was good of her. For this man to whom Clary was alluding had
won from her own lover all his inheritance.

"I like him so much. You will let me talk about him; won't you?"

"Oh, yes," said Mary.

"Do; pray do. There are so many reasons why we should tell each other
everything." This elicited no promise from Mary. "If I thought that
you would care, I would tell you all."

"I care about everything that concerns you, Clary."

"But I didn't bring you out to talk about myself now. I want to tell
you how much I like your Ralph Newton."

"But he isn't mine."

"Yes he is;--at any rate, if you like to have him. And of course you
will like. Why should you not? He is everything that is nice and
good;--and now he is to be the owner of all the property. What I want
to tell you is this; I do not begrudge it to you."

Why should Clarissa begrudge or not begrudge the property? Mary
understood it all, but nothing had been said entitling her to speak
as though she understood it. "I don't think you would begrudge me
anything that you thought good for me," said Mary.

"And I think that Mr. Ralph Newton,--this Mr. Ralph Newton, is very
good for you. Nothing could be so good. In the first place would it
not be very nice to have you mistress of Newton Priory? Only that
shouldn't come properly first."

"And what should come first, Clary?"

"Oh,--of course that you should love h