’Was she very tired when she got home? ’he asked.

‘Not very.  She has been talking much since that.’

‘Has she spoken about her will to you?’

‘Yes she has.’

‘I thought she would.’  Then he was silent, as though he expected that she would speak again on that matter.  But she had no wish to discuss her aunt’s will with him, and therefore, to break the silence, asked him some trifling question.  ’Are you not home earlier than you expected?

’It was very dull, and there was nothing more to be said.  I did come away early, and perhaps have given affront.  I hope you will accept the compliment implied.’

’Your aunt will, when she wakes.  She will be delighted to find you here.’

‘I am awake,’ said Mrs Winterfield.  ’I heard Frederic come in.  It is very good of him to come so soon.  Clara, my dear, we will have tea.’

During tea, Captain Aylmer was called upon to give an account of the Mayor’s feast how the rector had said grace before dinner, and Mr Possitt had done so after dinner, and how the soup had been uneatable.  ‘Dear me!’ said Mrs Winterfield.  ’And yet his wife was housekeeper formerly in a family that lived very well!’ The Mrs Winterfields of this world allow themselves little spiteful pleasures of this kind, repenting of them, no doubt, in those frequent moments in which they talk to their friends of their own terrible vilenesses.  Captain Aylmer then explained that his own health had been drunk, and his aunt desired to know whether, in returning thanks, he had been able to say anything further against that wicked Divorce Act of Parliament.  This her nephew was constrained to answer with a negative, and so the conversation was carried on till tea was over.  She was very anxious to hear every word that he could be made to utter as to his own doings in Parliament, and as to his doings in Perivale, and hung upon him with that wondrous affection which old people with warm hearts feel for those whom they have selected as their favourites.  Clara saw it all, and knew that her aunt was almost doting.

‘I think I’ll go up to bed now, my dears,’ said Mrs Winterfield, when she had taken her cup of tea.  ’I am tired with those weary stairs in the Town-hall, and I shall be better in my own room.’  Clara offered to go with her, but this attendance her aunt declined as she did always.  So the bell was rung, and the old maid. servant walked off with her mistress, and Miss Amedroz and Captain Aylmer were left together.

‘I don’t think she will last long,’ said Captain Aylmer, soon after the door was closed.

‘I should be sorry to believe that; but she is certainly much altered.’

’She has great courage to keep her up and a feeling that she should not give way, but do her duty to the last.  In spite of all that, however, I can see how changed she is since the summer.  Have you ever thought how sad it will be if she should be alone when the day comes?’