edious, sad journey to him, and he was silent and out of
spirits when he reached his home; but he had gone there for the purpose
of his cousin's funeral, and his mood was not at first noticed, as it
might have been had the occasion been different. His father's
countenance wore that well-known look of customary solemnity which is
found to be necessary on such occasions, and his mother was still
thinking of the sorrows of Lady Clavering, who had been at the rectory
for the last day or two.

"Have you seen Lady Ongar since she heard of the poor child's death?"
his mother asked.

"Yes; I was with her yesterday evening."

"Do you see her often?" Fanny inquired.

"What do you call often? No; not often. I went to her last night because
she had given me a commission. I have seen her three or four times
altogether."

"Is she as handsome as she used to be?" said Fanny.

"I cannot tell; I do not know."

"You used to think her very handsome, Harry."

"Of course she is handsome. There has never been a doubt about that; but
when a woman is in deep mourning one hardly thinks about her beauty."
Oh, Harry, Harry, how could you be so false?

"I thought young widows were always particularly charming," said Fanny;
"and when one remembers about Lord Ongar one does not think of her being
a widow so much as one would do if he had been different."

"I don't know anything about that," said he. He felt that he was stupid,
and that he blundered in every word, but he could not help himself. It
was impossible that he should talk about Lady Ongar with proper
composure. Fanny saw that the subject annoyed him and that it made him
cross, and she therefore ceased. "She wrote a very nice letter to your
mother about the poor child, and about her sister," said the rector. "I
wish with all my heart that Hermione could go to her for a time."

"I fear that he will not let her," said Mrs. Clavering. "I do not
understand it at all, but Hermione says that the rancor between Hugh and
her sister is stronger now than ever."

"And Hugh will not be the first to put rancor out of his heart," said
the rector.

On the following day was the funeral, and Harry went with his father and
cousins to the child's grave. When he met Sir Hugh in the dining-room in
the Great House the baronet hardly spoke to him. "A sad occasion; is it
not?" said Archie; "very sad; very sad." Then Harry could see that Hugh
scowled at his brother angrily, hating his humbug, and hati