nds a year; and it
is very hard, too, for a lady to live upon nothing a year, which lot
in life fate seemed to have in store for Miss Amedroz.

On the Friday evening Captain Aylmer came back, and Clara was in
truth glad to see him. Her aunt's death had been now far enough back
to admit of her telling Martha that she would not dine till Captain
Aylmer had come, and to allow her to think somewhat of his comfort.
People must eat and drink even when the grim monarch is in the house;
and it is a relief when they first dare to do so with some attention
to the comforts which are ordinarily so important to them. For
themselves alone women seldom care to exercise much trouble in this
direction; but the presence of a man at once excuses and renders
necessary the ceremony of a dinner. So Clara prepared for the
arrival, and greeted the comer with some returning pleasantness of
manner. And he, too, was pleasant with her, telling her of his plans,
and speaking to her as though she were one of those whom it was
natural that he should endeavour to interest in his future welfare.

"When I come back to-morrow," he said, "the will must be opened and
read. It had better be done here." They were sitting over the fire in
the dining-room, after dinner, and Clara knew that the coming back
to which he alluded was his return from the funeral. But she made no
answer to this, as she wished to say nothing about her aunt's will.
"And after that," he continued, "you had better let me take you out."

"I am very well," she said. "I do not want any special taking out."

"But you have been confined to the house the whole week."

"Women are accustomed to that, and do not feel it as you would.
However, I will walk with you if you'll take me."

"Of course I'll take you. And then we must settle our future plans.
Have you fixed upon any day yet for returning? Of course, the longer
you stay, the kinder you will be."

"I can do no good to any one by staying."

"You do good to me;--but I suppose I'm nobody. I wish I could tell
what to do about this house. Dear, good old woman! I know she would
have wished that I should keep it in my own hands, with some idea of
living here at some future time;--but of course I never shall live
here."

"Why not?"

"Would you like it yourself?"

"I am not Member of Parliament for Perivale, and should not be the
leading person in the town. You would be a sort of king here; and
then, some day, you will have your mother