“I don’t know anything about that,” said he.  He felt that he was stupid, and that he blundered in every word, but he could not help himself.  It was impossible that he should talk about Lady Ongar with proper composure.  Fanny saw that the subject annoyed him and that it made him cross, and she therefore ceased.  “She wrote a very nice letter to your mother about the poor child, and about her sister,” said the rector.  “I wish with all my heart that Hermione could go to her for a time.”

“I fear that he will not let her,” said Mrs. Clavering.  “I do not understand it at all, but Hermione says that the rancor between Hugh and her sister is stronger now than ever.”

“And Hugh will not be the first to put rancor out of his heart,” said the rector.

On the following day was the funeral, and Harry went with his father and cousins to the child’s grave.  When he met Sir Hugh in the dining-room in the Great House the baronet hardly spoke to him.  “A sad occasion; is it not?” said Archie; “very sad; very sad.”  Then Harry could see that Hugh scowled at his brother angrily, hating his humbug, and hating it the more because in Archie’s case it was doubly humbug.  Archie was now heir to the property and to the title.

After the funeral, Harry went to see Lady Clavering, and again had to endure a conversation about Lady Ongar.  Indeed, he had been specially commissioned by Julia to press upon her sister the expediency of leaving Clavering for a while.  This had been early on that last evening in Bolton Street, long before Madam Gordeloup had made her appearance.  “Tell her from me,” Lady Ongar had said, “that I will go anywhere that she may wish if she will go with me—­she and I alone; and, Harry, tell her this as though I meant it.  I do mean it.  She will understand why I do not write myself.  I know that he sees all her letters when he is with her.”  This task Harry was now to perform, and the result he was bound to communicate to Lady Ongar.  The message he might give; but delivering the answer to Lady Ongar would be another thing.

Lady Clavering listened to what he said, but when he pressed her for a reply she shook her head.  “And why not, Lady Clavering?”

“People can’t always leave their houses and go away, Harry.”

“But I should have thought that you could have done so now; that is, before long.  Will Sir Hugh remain here at Clavering?”

“He has not told me that he means to go.”

“If he stays, I suppose you will stay; but if he goes up to London again, I cannot see why you and your sister should not go away together.  She mentioned Tenby as being very quiet, but she would be guided by you in that altogether.”

“I do not think it will be possible, Harry.  Tell her, with my love, that I am truly obliged to her, but that I do not think it will be possible.  She is free, you know, to do what she pleases.”

“Yes, she is free.  But do you mean—?”