own quarters when the carriage was gone and have a little chat with her,--being careful to creep away again before her ladyship's return. This was Clara's new friend. "Have you heard from Fred since he has been gone?" the old man asked one day, when he had come upon Clara still seated in the parlour in which they had lunched. He had been out, at the front of the house, scolding the under-gardener; but the man had taken away his barrow and left him, and Sir Anthony had found himself without employment. "Only a line to say that he is to be here on the sixteenth." "I don't think people write so many love-letters as they did when I was young," said Sir Anthony. "To judge from the novels, I should think not. The old novels used to be full of love-letters." "Fred was never good at writing, I think." "Members of Parliament have too much to do, I suppose," said Clara. "But he always writes when there is any business. He's a capital man of business. I wish I could say as much for his brother,--or for myself." "Lady Aylmer seems to like work of that sort." "So she does. She'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."