ngs with him were as they ought to
be.

Yes,--he could have a fly over to Belton Castle after breakfast.
Having learned so much, and ordered a dish of eggs and bacon for his
morning's breakfast, he went up-stairs to a miserable little bedroom,
to dress himself after his night's journey.

CHAPTER XXI.

MRS. ASKERTON'S GENEROSITY.

The death of the old man at Belton Castle had been very sudden. At
three o'clock in the morning Clara had been called into his room, and
at five o'clock she was alone in the world,--having neither father,
mother, nor brother; without a home, without a shilling that she
could call her own;--with no hope as to her future life, if,--as she
had so much reason to suppose,--Captain Aylmer should have chosen to
accept her last letter as a ground for permanent separation. But at
this moment, on this saddest morning, she did not care much for that
chance. It seemed to be almost indifferent to her, that question of
Lady Aylmer and her anger. The more that she was absolutely in need
of external friendship, the more disposed was she to reject it, and
to declare to herself that she was prepared to stand alone in the
world.

For the last week she had understood from the doctor that her father
was in truth sinking, and that she might hardly hope ever to see him
again convalescent. She had therefore in some sort prepared herself
for her loneliness, and anticipated the misery of her position. As
soon as it was known to the women in the room that life had left the
old man, one of them had taken her by the hand and led her back to
her own chamber. "Now, Miss Clara, you had better lie down on the bed
again;--you had indeed; you can do nothing sitting up." She took the
old woman's advice, and allowed them to do with her as they would. It
was true that there was no longer any work by which she could make
herself useful in that house,--in that house, or, as far as she could
see, in any other. Yes; she would go to bed, and lying there would
feel how convenient it would be for many persons if she also could
be taken away to her long rest, as her father, and aunt, and brother
had been taken before her. Her name and family had been unfortunate,
and it would be well that there should be no Amedroz left to trouble
those more fortunate persons who were to come after them. In her
sorrow and bitterness she included both her cousin Will and Captain
Aylmer among those more fortunate ones for whose sake it might b