"She spoke of it today, Aunt Bettina. She nodded to you at the window, she said, and pointed towards the station: she wished you to understand that she was pressed for time." Aunt Bettina made no answer. She was knitting vehemently. Apparently Sara was not getting on very well. "Mr. Wheatley has been here, aunt." "You need not tell it me. He has been dodging in and out like a dog in a fair. Anybody but he might have respected the quiet of the house on the very day after its poor master had been taken from it. He came in and went out again, and then came in again--with you. As he _had_ come, he might have been polite enough to ask for me. Neal said he wanted you. Early times, I think, to begin showing people you are the house's mistress!" It was not a promising commencement. Sara could only apply herself to her task in all deprecating meekness. "Aunt Bettina, he came to speak about the future. I daresay he thought you would not like to be intruded upon today, for he wished me to talk things over with you. He was asking when we--you--when we should be ready to vacate the house." "To do what?" she repeated shrilly. But she heard very well, Sara was close to her and speaking in low clear tones. "When we shall be ready to leave the house?" "Had he not better turn us out of it today?" was the retort of the angry lady. "How dare he show this indecent haste?" "Oh, aunt! You know it is only in accordance with papa's will that he has to do it. You heard it read. You read it to yourself afterwards." "Yes, I did read it to myself afterwards: I could not believe that my brother Richard would have made such a will, and I chose to satisfy myself by reading it. Everything to be sold, indeed; as if we were so many bankrupts? Hold your tongue, Sara! Do you think I don't grieve for the loss of the best brother that ever stepped! But there are matters a-gate that I don't understand." "There's a necessity for the things being sold, Aunt Bettina." "He told me so before he died: _you_ need not repeat it to me. Where's the money to be paid to?" "And therefore Mr. Wheatley is desirous that there should be no unnecessary delay," Sara continued, a faint colour tinging her cheek at the consciousness of evading her aunt's question. "He does not ask us to go out at once, Aunt Bettina: he only wishes to know when we shall be ready to go out." "Then tell him from me that _I_ will be no hindrance," retorted Miss Bettina, her temper rising. "Tomorrow--the next day--the day after--any day he pleases, now, or in a month to come. I can get a lodging at an hour's notice." "Aunt, _why_ are you so angry with me?" The burst came from her in her pain and vexation. She could not help feeling how unjust it was to cast this anger upon her; how little she had done to deserve it Miss Bettina knitted on more fiercely, declining an answer. "It is not my fault, aunt. If you knew--if you knew what I have to bear!"