supper parties, and who had throughout her life
stabled her horses in stalls very different to those used by the
lady of Perivale. Now this Mrs. Folliott was the first to tell Clara
of the will. Clara, of course, was altogether indifferent. She had
known for months past that her aunt had intended to leave nothing
to her, and her only hope had been that she might be left free from
any commiseration or remark on the subject. But Mrs. Folliott, with
sundry shakings of the head, told her how her aunt had omitted to
name her--and then told her also of Captain Aylmer's generosity.
"We all did think, my dear," said Mrs. Folliott, "that she would
have done better than that for you, or at any rate that she would
not have left you dependent on him." Captain Aylmer's horses were
also supposed to be stabled in strictly Low Church stalls, and were
therefore regarded by Mrs. Folliott with much dislike.

"I and my aunt understood each other perfectly," said Clara.

"I dare say. But if so, you really were the only person that did
understand her. No doubt what she did was quite right, seeing that
she was a saint; but we sinners would have thought it very wicked to
have made such a will, and then to have trusted to the generosity of
another person after we were dead."

"But there is no question of trusting to any one's generosity, Mrs.
Folliott."

"He need not pay you a shilling, you know, unless he likes it."

"And he will not be asked to pay me a shilling."

"I don't suppose he will go back after what he has said publicly."

"My dear Mrs. Folliott," said Clara earnestly, "pray do not let us
talk about it. It is quite unnecessary. I never expected any of my
aunt's property, and knew all along that it was to go to Captain
Aylmer,--who, indeed, was Mrs. Winterfield's heir naturally. Mrs.
Winterfield was not really my aunt, and I had no claim on her."

"But everybody understood that she was to provide for you."

"As I was not one of the everybodies myself, it will not signify."
Then Mrs. Folliott retreated, having, as she thought, performed her
duty to Clara, and contented herself henceforth with abusing Mrs.
Winterfield's will in her own social circles at Taunton.

On the evening of that day, when all the visitors were gone and the
house was again quiet, Captain Aylmer thought it expedient to explain
to Clara the nature of his aunt's will, and the manner in which she
would be allowed to inherit under it the amount of money whic