, since my darling was taken from me. Of course he
will marry, and Hugh, I think, would like him to marry Julia. It was he
proposed it. He never likes anything unless he has proposed it himself."

"It was he proposed the marriage with Lord Ongar. Does he like that?"

"Well; you know Julia has got her money." Harry, as he heard this,
turned away, sick at heart. The poor baby whose mother was now speaking
to him had only been buried that morning, and she was already making
fresh schemes for family wealth. Julia has got her money! That had
seemed to her, even in her sorrow, to be sufficient compensation for all
that her sister had endured and was enduring. Poor soul! Harry did not
reflect as he should have done, that in all her schemes she was only
scheming for that peace which might perhaps come to her if her husband
were satisfied. "And why should not Julia take him?" she asked.

"I cannot tell why, but she never will," said Harry, almost in anger. At
that moment the door was opened, and Sir Hugh came into the room. "I did
not know that you were here," Sir Hugh said, turning to the visitor.

"I could not be down here without saying a few words to Lady Clavering."

"The less said the better, I suppose, just at present," said Sir Hugh.
But there was no offence in the tone of his voice, or in his
countenance, and Harry took the words as meaning none.

"I was telling Lady Clavering that as soon as she can, she would be
better if she left home for a while."

"And why should you tell Lady Clavering that?"

"I have told him that I would not go," said the poor woman.

"Why should she go, and where; and why have you proposed it? And how
does it come to pass that her going or not going should be a matter of
solicitude to you?" Now, as Sir Hugh asked these questions of his
cousin, there was much of offence in his tone--of intended offence--and
in his eye, and in all his bearing. He had turned his back upon his
wife, and was looking full into Harry's face; "Lady Clavering, no doubt,
is much obliged to you," he said, "but why is it that you specially have
interfered to recommend her to leave her home at such a time as this?"

Harry had not spoken as he did to Sir Hugh without having made some
calculation in his own mind as to the result of what he was about to
say. He did not, as regarded himself, care for his cousin or his
cousin's anger. His object at present was simply that of carrying out
Lady Ongar's wish, and he had th