"But that shows nothing," said the Rector, speaking in anger. "He very
rarely does come, and when he does, it would be better that he should be
away. I think that he likes to insult me by misconducting himself. They
say that she is not well, and I can easily believe that all this about
her sister makes her unhappy. If I were you, I would go up and call.
Your mother was there the other day, but did not see them. I think
you'll find that he's away, hunting somewhere. I saw the groom going off
with three horses on Sunday afternoon. He always sends them by the
church gate just as we're coming out."

So Harry went up to the house, and found Lady Clavering at home. She was
looking old and careworn, but she was glad to see him. Harry was the
only one of the rectory family who had been liked at the great house
since Sir Hugh's marriage, and he, had he cared to do so, would have
been made welcome there. But, as he had once said to Sir Hugh's
sister-in-law, if he shot the Clavering game, he would be expected to do
so in the guise of a head gamekeeper, and he did not choose to play that
part. It would not suit him to drink Sir Hugh's claret, and be bidden to
ring the bell, and to be asked to step into the stable for this or that.
He was a fellow of his college, and quite as big a man, he thought, as
Sir Hugh. He would not be a hanger-on at the park, and, to tell the
truth, he disliked his cousin quite as much as his father did. But there
had even been a sort of friendship--nay, occasionally almost a
confidence, between him and Lady Clavering, and he believed that by her
he was really liked.

Lady Clavering had heard of his engagement, and, of course,
congratulated him. "Who told you?" he asked--"was it my mother?"

"No; I have not seen your mother I don't know when. I think it was my