"Do you mean to tell me that she has left you nothing,--absolutely nothing?" The old man's manner was altogether altered as he asked this question; and there came over his face so unusual a look of energy,--of the energy of anger,--that Clara was frightened, and knew not how to answer him with that tone of authority which she was accustomed to use when she found it necessary to exercise control over him. "Do you mean to say that there is nothing,--nothing?" And as he repeated the question he pushed her away from his knees and stood up with an effort, leaning against the back of his chair. "Dear papa, do not let this distress you." "But is it so? Is there in truth nothing?" "Nothing, papa. Remember that she was not really my aunt." "Nonsense, child;--nonsense! How can you talk such trash to me as that? And then you tell me not to distress myself! I am to know that you will be a beggar in a year or two,--probably in a few months,--and that is not to distress me! She has been a wicked woman!" "Oh, papa, do not say that." "A wicked woman. A very wicked woman. It is always so with those who pretend to be more religious than their neighbours. She has been a very wicked woman, alluring you into her house with false hopes." "No, papa;--no; I must contradict you. She had given me no ground for such hope." "I say she had,--even though she may not have made a promise. I say she had. Did not everybody think that you were to have her money?" "I don't know what people may have thought. Nobody has had any right to think about it at all." "That is nonsense, Clara. You know that I expected it;--that you expected it yourself." "No;--no, no!" "Clara,--how can you tell me that?" "Papa, I knew that she intended to leave me nothing. She told me so when I was there in the spring." "She told you so?" "Yes, papa. She told me that Frederic Aylmer was to have all her property. She explained to me everything that she meant to do, and I thought that she was right." "And why was not I told when you came home?" "Dear papa!" "Dear papa, indeed. What is the meaning of dear papa? Why have I been deceived?" "What good could I do by telling you? You could not change it." "You have been very undutiful; and as for her, her wickedness and cruelty shock me,--shock me. They do, indeed. That she should have known your position, and had you with her always,--and then have made such a will as that! Quite heartless! She must have been quite heartless."