'It is best you should hate it.'

'I do! Why did he come home to bother us? Oh, Jem, can't I still
live here, and only visit there?'

'No, Clara. The care of granny is your first duty; and during her
life, so long as you are single, her home must be yours.'

The edict was given in stern self-abnegation; but James was very kind
to her, treating her as a victim, and spending his leisure in walking
about with her, that she might take leave of every favourite haunt.
He was indulgent enough even to make no objection to going with her
to Ormersfield, where she wandered about the park, visited old scenes
with Louis, and went over all his improvements. His cottages had as
yet the sole fault of looking too new, and one of his tenants would
not shut up his pigs; but otherwise all was going on well, and
Inglewood was in the excitement of Louis's first harvest. He walked
about with ears of wheat in his hand, talked knowingly of loads and
acres, and had almost taught his father to watch the barometer. It
added to Clara's regrets that she should miss the harvest-supper, for
which he and Mr. Holdsworth had wonderful designs; but it was not to
take place until Fitzjocelyn's return from Cheveleigh. Oliver had
invited him and his father to conduct Mrs. Frost thither, and add
eclat to her reception; and this, as Clara said, 'was the only
comfort in the business.'

James had effectually destroyed all pleasure on her part, and had
made the change appear an unmitigated misfortune, even though she did
not know what she would have thought the worst. Congratulations were