"But you'll have to wait," said Lady Aylmer, turning upon her companion almost fiercely. "That is, you certainly will have to do so if you are to depend upon Frederic's income alone." "I have nothing of my own,--as he knows; absolutely nothing." "That does not seem to be quite so clear," said Lady Aylmer, speaking now very cautiously,--or rather with a purpose of great caution; "I don't think that that is quite so clear. Frederic has been telling me that there seems to be some sort of a doubt about the settlement of the Belton estate." "There is no sort of doubt whatsoever;--no shadow of a doubt. He is quite mistaken." "Don't be in such a hurry, my dear. It is not likely that you yourself should be a very good lawyer." "Lady Aylmer, I must be in a hurry lest there should be any mistake about this. There is no question here for lawyers. Frederic must have been misled by a word or two which I said to him with quite another purpose. Everybody concerned knows that the Belton estate goes to my cousin Will. My poor father was quite aware of it." "That is all very well; and pray remember, my dear, that you need not attack me in this way. I am endeavouring, if possible, to arrange the accomplishment of your own wishes. It seems that Mr. Belton himself does not claim the property." "There is no question of claiming. Because he is a man more generous than any other person in the world,--romantically generous, he has offered to give me the property which was my father's for his lifetime; but I do not suppose that you would wish, or that Captain Aylmer would wish, that I should accept such an offer as that." There was a tone in her voice as she said this, and a glance in her eye as she turned her face full upon her companion, which almost prevailed against Lady Aylmer's force of character. "I really don't know, my dear," said Lady Aylmer. "You are so violent." "I certainly am eager about this. No consideration on earth would induce me to take my cousin's property from him." "It always seemed to me that that entail was a most unfair proceeding." "What would it signify even if it were,--which it was not? Papa got certain advantages on those conditions. But what can all that matter? It belongs to Will Belton." Then there was another pause, and Clara thought that that subject was over between them. But Lady Aylmer had not as yet completed her purpose. "Shall I tell you, my dear, what I think you ought to do?" "Certainly, Lady Aylmer; if you wish it."