“Come, Archie, none of that,” said his brother.  “It is my uncle’s trade.”

“Hugh,” said the rector, “unless you can think of it so, you will find no comfort.”

“And I expect none, so there is an end of that.  Different people think of these things differently, you know, and it is of no more use for me to bother you than it is for you to bother me.  My boy has gone, and I know that he will not come back to me.  I shall never have another, and it is hard to bear.  But, meaning no offence to you, I would sooner be left to bear it in my own way.  If I were to talk about grass, as Archie did just now, it would be a humbug, and I hate humbug.  No offence to you.  Take some wine, uncle.”  But the rector could not drink wine in that presence, and therefore he escaped as soon as he could.  He spoke one word of intended comfort to Lady Clavering, and then returned to the rectory.

Chapter XXIV

Yes; Wrong—­Certainly Wrong

Harry Clavering had heard the news of his little cousin’s death before he went to Bolton Street to report the result of his negotiation with the count.  His mother’s letter with the news had come to him in the morning, and on the same evening he called on Lady Ongar.  She also had then received Mrs. Clavering’s letter, and knew what had occurred at the park.  Harry found her alone, having asked the servant whether Madam Gordeloup was with his mistress.  Had such been the case he would have gone away, and left his message untold.

As he entered the room his mind was naturally full of the tidings from Clavering.  Count Pateroff and his message had lost some of their importance through this other event, and the emptiness of the childless house was the first subject of conversation between him and Lady Ongar.  “I pity my sister greatly,” said she.  “I feel for her as deeply as I should have done had nothing occurred to separate us—­but I cannot feel for him.”

“I do,” said Harry.

“He is your cousin, and perhaps has been your friend?”

“No, not especially.  He and I have never pulled well together; but still I pity him deeply.”

“He is not my cousin, but I know him better than you do, Harry.  He will not feel much himself, and his sorrow will be for his heir, not for his son.  He is a man whose happiness does not depend on the life or death of any one.  He likes some people, as he once liked me; but I do not think that he ever loved any human being.  He will get over it, and he will simply wish that Hermy may die, that he may marry another wife.  Harry, I know him so well!”

“Archie will marry now,” said Harry.

“Yes; if he can get any one to have him.  There are very few men who can’t get wives, but I can fancy Archie Clavering to be one of them.  He has not humility enough to ask the sort of girl who would be glad to take him.  Now, with his improved prospects, he will want a royal princess or something not much short of it.  Money, rank, and blood might have done before, but he’ll expect youth, beauty, and wit now, as well as the other things.  He may marry after all, for he is just the man to walk out of a church some day with the cookmaid under his arm as his wife.”