she had treated Sir Hugh with scorn, and had
been enabled to do so without the utterance of any actual reproach as to
the wrongs which she herself had endured from him. He had put himself in
her power, and she had not thrown away the opportunity. She had told him
that she did not want his friendship, and would not be his friend; but
she had done this without any loud abuse unbecoming to her either as a
countess, a widow, or a lady. For Hermione she was sorry. Hermione now
could hardly come to her. But even as to that, she did not despair. As
things were going on, it would become almost necessary that her sister
and Sir Hugh should be parted. Both must wish it; and if this were
arranged, then Hermione should come to her.

But from this she soon came to think again about Harry Clavering. How
was that matter to be decided, and what steps would it become her to
take as to its decision? Sir Hugh had proposed to her that she should
sell her interest in Ongar Park, and she had promised that she would
make known her decision on that matter through her lawyer. As she had
been saying this, she was well aware that she would never sell the
property; but she had already resolved that she would at once give it
back, without purchase-money, to the Ongar family, were it not kept that
she might hand it over to Harry Clavering as a fitting residence for his
lordship. If he might be there, looking after his cattle, going about
with the steward subservient at his heels, ministering justice to the
Enoch Gubbys and others, she would care nothing for the wants of any of
the Courton people. But if such were not to be the destiny of Ongar
Park--if there were to be no such Adam in that Eden--then the mother of
the little lord might take herself thither, and revel among the rich
blessings of the place without delay, and with no difficulty as to
price. As to price--had she not already found the money-bag that had
come to her to be too heavy for her hands?

But she could do nothing till that question was settled; and how was she
to settle it? Every word that had passed between her and Cecilia Burton
had been turned over and over in her mind, and she could only declare to
herself; as she had then declared to her visitor, that it must be as
Harry should please. She would submit if he required her submission, but
she could not bring herself to take steps to secure her own misery.

At last came the day on which the two Claverings were to go down to