'But you must write to me daily if I do go.'

To this Clara made no objection and she must write also to some one
else. She must let her cousin know how little chance there was that she
would be at home at Christmas, explaining to him at the same time that
his visit to her father would on that account be all the more welcome.

'Are you going to her now?' he asked, as Clara got up immediately after
breakfast. 'I shall be in the house all the morning, and if you want me
you will of course send for me.'

'She may perhaps like to see you.'

'I will come up every now and again. I would remain there altogether,
only I should be in the way.' Then he got a newspaper and made himself
comfortable over the fire, while she went up to her weary task in her
aunt's room.

Neither on that day nor on the next did the lawyer come, and on the
following morning all earthly troubles were over with Mrs Winterfield.
It was early on the Sunday morning that she died, and late on the
Saturday evening Mr Palmer had sent up to say that he had been detained
at Taunton, but that he would wait on Mrs Winterfield early on the
Monday morning. On the Friday the poor lady had said much on the
subject, but had been comforted by an assurance from her nephew that
the arrangement should be carried out exactly as she wished it, whether
the codicil was or was not added to the will. To Clara she said nothing
more on the subject, nor at such a time did Captain Aylmer feel that he
could offer her any assurance on the matter. But Clara knew that the
will was not altered; and though at the time she was not thinking much