nds from the
length prescribed by family tradition, which his mother was desirous
of exacting. September was always to be passed at Aylmer Park,
because of the shooting. In September, indeed, the eldest son himself
was wont to be there,--probably with a friend or two,--and the fat
old servants bestirred themselves, and there was something of life
about the place. At Christmas, Captain Aylmer was there as the
only visitor, and Christmas was supposed to extend from the middle
of December to the opening of Parliament. It must, however, be
explained, that on the present occasion his visit had been a matter
of treaty and compromise. He had not gone to Aylmer Park at all till
his mother had in some sort assented to his marriage with Clara
Amedroz. To this Lady Aylmer had been very averse, and there had been
many serious letters. Belinda Aylmer, the daughter of the house, had
had a bad time in pleading her brother's cause,--and some very harsh
words had been uttered;--but ultimately the matter had been arranged,
and, as is usual in such contests, the mother had yielded to the son.
Captain Aylmer had therefore gone down a few days before Christmas,
with a righteous feeling that he owed much to his mother for her
condescension, and almost prepared to make himself very disagreeable
to Clara by way of atoning to his family for his folly in desiring to
marry her.

Lady Aylmer was very plain-spoken on the subject of all Clara's
shortcomings,--very plain-spoken, and very inquisitive. "She will
never have one shilling, I suppose?" she said.

"Yes, ma'am." Captain Aylmer always called his mother ma'am. "She
will have that fifteen hundred pounds that I told you of."

"That is to say, you will have back the money which you yourself have
given her, Fred. I suppose that is the English of it?" Then Lady
Aylmer raised her eyebrows and looked very wise.

"Just so, ma'am."

"You can't call that having anything of her own. In point of fact she
is penniless."

"It is no good harping on that," said Captain Aylmer, somewhat
sharply.

"Not in the least, my dear; no good at all. Of course you have looked
it all in the face. You will be a poor man instead of a rich man, but
you will have enough to live on,--that is if she doesn't have a large
family;--which of course she will."

"I shall do very well, ma'am."

"You might do pretty well, I dare say, if you could live
privately,--at Perivale, keeping up the old family house there, and
hav