he's fond of it,--I am not. I sometimes think that
Fred takes after her. Where was it you first knew him?"

"At Perivale. We used, both of us, to be staying with Mrs.
Winterfield."

"Yes, yes; of course. The most natural thing in life. Well, my dear,
I can assure you that I am quite satisfied."

"Thank you, Sir Anthony. I'm glad to hear you say even as much as
that."

"Of course money is very desirable for a man situated like Fred; but
he'll have enough, and if he is pleased, I am. Personally, as regards
yourself, I am more than pleased. I am indeed."

"It's very good of you to say so."

Sir Anthony looked at Clara, and his heart was softened towards her
as he saw that there was a tear in her eye. A man's heart must be
very hard when it does not become softened by the trouble of a woman
with whom he finds himself alone. "I don't know how you and Lady
Aylmer get on together," said he; "but it will not be my fault if we
are not friends."

"I am afraid that Lady Aylmer does not like me," said Clara.

"Indeed. I was afraid there was something of that. But you must
remember she is hard to please. You'll find she'll come round in
time."

"She thinks that Captain Aylmer should not marry a woman without
money."

"That's all very well; but I don't see why Fred shouldn't please
himself. He's old enough to know what he wants."

"Is he, Sir Anthony? That's just the question. I'm not quite sure
that he does know what he wants."

"Fred doesn't know, do you mean?"

"I don't quite think he does, sir. And the worst of it is, I am in
doubt as well as he."

"In doubt about marrying him?"

"In doubt whether it will be good for him or for any of us. I don't
like to come into a family that does not desire to have me."

"You shouldn't think so much of Lady Aylmer as all that, my dear."

"But I do think a great deal of her."

"I shall be very glad to have you as a daughter-in-law. And as for
Lady Aylmer--between you and me, my dear, you shouldn't take every
word she says so much to heart. She's the best woman in the world,
and I'm sure I'm bound to say so. But she has her temper, you know;
and I don't think you ought to give way to her altogether. There's
the carriage. It won't do you any good if we're found together
talking over it all; will it?" Then the baronet hobbled off, and Lady
Aylmer, when she entered the room, found Clara sitting alone.

Whether it was that the wife was clever enough to extract from her
hus