chaise which it might not otherwise have possessed. But Captain Aylmer
was only the second son of his father, Sir Anthony Aylmer, who had
married a Miss Folliott, sister of our Mrs Winterfield. On Frederic
Aylmer his mother's estate was settled. That and Mrs Winterfield's
property lay in the neighbourhood of Perivale; and now, on the occasion
to which I am alluding, Mrs Winterfield thought it necessary to tell
Clara that the property must all go together. She had thought about it,
and had doubted about it, and had prayed about it, and now she found
that such a disposition of it was her duty.

'I am quite sure you're right, aunt,' Clara had said. She knew very
well what had come of that provision which her father had attempted to
make for her, and knew also how great were her father's expectations in
regard to Mrs Winterfield's money.

'I hope I am; but I have thought it right to tell you. I shall feel
myself bound to tell Frederic. I have had many doubts, but I think I am
right.'

'I am sure you are, aunt. What would he think of me if, at some future
time, he should have to find that I had been in his way?'

'The future time will not be long now, my dear.'

'I hope it may; but long or short, it is better so.'

'I think it is, my dear; I think it is. I think it is my duty.'

It must be understood that Captain Aylmer was member for Perivale on
the Low Church interest, and that, therefore, when at Perivale he was