was held by an old widow who had been senior in life to her late
landlady; but no such walk had been possible, as it was dark before the
last of the visitors from Taunton had gone. At breakfast on Sunday he
again proposed the walk, offering to take her immediately after
luncheon. 'I suppose you will not go to church?' he said.

'Not today. I could hardly bring myself to do it today.'

'I think you are right. I shall go. A man can always do these things
sooner than a lady can. But you will come out afterwards?' To this she
assented, and then she was left alone throughout the morning. The walk
she did not mind. That she and Captain Aylmer should walk together was
all very well. They might probably have done so had Mrs Winterfield
been still alive. It was the long evening afterwards that she dreaded
the long winter evening, in which she would have to sit with him as his
guest, and with him only. She could not pass these hours without
talking to him, and she felt that she could not talk to him naturally
and easily. It would, however, be but for once, and she would bear it.

They went together down to the house of Mrs Partridge, the tenant, and
made their kindly speeches to the old woman. Mrs Partridge already knew
that Captain Aylmer was to be her landlord, but having hitherto seen
more of Miss Amedroz than of the captain, and having always regarded
her landlady's niece as being connected irrevocably with the property,
she addressed them as though the estate were a joint affair.

'I shan't be here to trouble you long that I shan't, Miss Clara,' said
the old woman.

'I am sure Captain Aylmer would be very sorry to lose you,' replied