If you can manage to come to us at Easter, or any
other time when Parliament does not keep you in London,
we shall be so delighted to see you.
Dear Frederic,
Yours very affectionately,
Clara Amedroz.’
MISS AMEDROZ HAS ANOTHER CHANCE
It was on a Sunday morning that Clara’s letter
reached Aylmer Park, and Frederic Aylmer found it
on his plate as he took his place at the breakfast-table.
Domestic habits at Aylmer Park had grown with the
growth of years till they had become adamantine, and
domestic habits required prayers every morning at
a quarter before nine o’clock. At twenty
minutes before nine Lady Aylmer would always be in
the dining-room to make the tea and open the post-bag,
and as she was always there alone, she knew more about
other people’s letters than other people ever
knew about hers. When these operations were over
she rang the bell, and the servants of the family,
who by that time had already formed themselves into
line in the hail, would march in, and settle themselves
on benches prepared for them near the sideboard which
benches were afterwards carried away by the retiring
procession. Lady Aylmer herself always read prayers,
as Sir Anthony never appeared till the middle of breakfast.
Belinda would usually come down in a scurry as she
heard her mother’s bell, in such a way as to
put the army in the hail to some confusion; but Frederic
Aylmer, when he was at home, rarely entered the room
till after the service was over. At Perivale no
doubt he was more strict in his conduct; but then at
Perivale he had special interests and influences which
were wanting to him at Aylmer Park. During those
five minutes Lady Aylmer would deal round the letters
to the several plates of the inmates of her house not
without looking at the post-office marks upon them;
and on this occasion she had dealt a letter from Clara
to her son.
The arrival of the letter was announced to Frederic
Aylmer before he took his seat.
‘Frederic,’ said her ladyship, in her
most portentous voice, ’I am glad to say that
at last there is a letter from Belton.’
He made no immediate reply, but making his way slowly
to his place, took up the little packet, turned it
over in his hand, and then put it into his pocket.
Having done this, he began very slowly with his tea
and egg. For three minutes his mother was contented
to make, or to pretend to make, some effort in the
same direction. Then her impatience became too
much for her, and she began to question him.
‘Will you not read it, Frederic?’
‘Of course I shall, ma’am.’
‘But why not do so now, when you know how anxious
we are?’
‘There are letters which one would sooner read
in private.’
‘But when a matter is of so much importance
,’ said Belinda.
‘The importance, Bel, is to me, and not to you,’
said her brother.
