rank and her money; for that must now
be hers. Julia can be quite as hard and as stubborn as he can. But I did
write as I say, and I think that if she had got my letter before she had
written herself, she would perhaps have stayed. But here is a letter
from her, declaring that she will come at once. She will be starting
almost as soon as my letter gets there, and I am sure she will not alter
her purpose now."

"I don't see why she should not come if she likes it."

"Only that she might be more comfortable there. But read what she says.
You need not read the first part. Not that there is any secret; but it
is about him and his last moments, and it would only pain you."

Harry longed to read the whole, but he did as he was bid, and began the
letter at the spot which Lady Clavering marked for him with her finger.
"I have to start on the third, and as I shall stay nowhere except to
sleep at Turin and Paris, I shall be home by the eighth--I think on the
evening of the eighth. I shall bring only my own maid, and one of his
men who desires to come back with me. I wish to have apartments taken
for me in London. I suppose Hugh will do as much as this for me."

"I am quite sure Hugh won't," said Lady Clavering, who was watching his
eye as he read.

Harry said nothing, but went on reading. "I shall only want two
sitting-rooms and two bedrooms--one for myself and one for Clara--and
should like to have them somewhere near Piccadilly--in Clarges street,
or about there. You can write me a line, or send me a message to the
Hotel Bristol, at Paris. If anything fails, so that I should not hear, I
shall go to the Palace Hotel; and, in that case, should telegraph for
rooms from Paris."

"Is that all I'm to read?" Harry asked.

"You can go on and see what she says as to her reason for coming." So
Harry went on reading. "I have suffered much, and of course I know that
I must suffer more; but I am determined that I will face the worst of it
at once. It has been hinted to me that an attempt will be made to
interfere with the settlement--" "Who can have hinted that?" said Harry.
Lady Clavering suspected who might have done so, but she made no answer.
"I can hardly think it possible; but, if it is done, I will not be out
of the way. I have done my duty as best I could, and have done it under
circumstances that I may truly say were terrible; and I will go on doing
it. No one shall say that I am ashamed to show my face and claim my own.
Yo