'But, aunt; they have to take some oath, or something of that sort, to
show that they are Christians.'

'Not now, my dear. They've done away with all that since we had Jew
members. An atheist can go into Parliament now; and I'm told that most
of them are that, or nearly as bad. I can remember when no Papist could
sit in Parliament. But they seem to me to be doing away with
everything. It's a great comfort to me that Frederic is what he is.'

'I'm sure it must be, aunt.'

Then there was a pause, during which, however, Mrs Winterfield gave no
sign that the conversation was to be considered as being over. Clara
knew her aunt's ways so well, that she was sure something more was
coming, and therefore waited patiently, without any thought of taking
up her book. 'I was speaking to him about you yesterday,' Mrs
Winterfield said at last.

'That would not interest him very much.'

'Why not? Do you suppose he is not interested in those I love? Indeed,
it did interest him; and he told me what I did not know before, and
what you ought to have told me.'

Clara now blushed, she knew not why, and became agitated. 'I don't know
that I have kept anything from you that I ought to have told,' she said.

'He says that the provision made for you by your father has all been
squandered.'