“I mean, Harry, that I had better stay where I am.  What is the use of a scene, and of being refused at last?  Do not say—­more about it, but tell her that it cannot be so.”  This Harry premised to do, and after a while was rising to go, when she suddenly asked him a question.  “Do you remember what I was saying about Julia and Archie when you were here last?”

“Yes; I remember.”

“Well, would he have a chance?  It seems that you see more of her now than any one else.”

“No chance at all, I should say.”  And Harry, as he answered, could not repress a feeling of most unreasonable jealousy.

“Ah, you have always thought little of Archie.  Archie’s position is changed now, Harry, since my darling was taken from me.  Of course he will marry, and Hugh, I think, would like him to marry Julia.  It was he proposed it.  He never likes anything unless he has proposed it himself.”

“It was he proposed the marriage with Lord Ongar.  Does he like that?”

“Well; you know Julia has got her money.”  Harry, as he heard this, turned away, sick at heart.  The poor baby whose mother was now speaking to him had only been buried that morning, and she was already making fresh schemes for family wealth.  Julia has got her money!  That had seemed to her, even in her sorrow, to be sufficient compensation for all that her sister had endured and was enduring.  Poor soul!  Harry did not reflect as he should have done, that in all her schemes she was only scheming for that peace which might perhaps come to her if her husband were satisfied.  “And why should not Julia take him?” she asked.

“I cannot tell why, but she never will,” said Harry, almost in anger.  At that moment the door was opened, and Sir Hugh came into the room.  “I did not know that you were here,” Sir Hugh said, turning to the visitor.

“I could not be down here without saying a few words to Lady Clavering.”

“The less said the better, I suppose, just at present,” said Sir Hugh.  But there was no offence in the tone of his voice, or in his countenance, and Harry took the words as meaning none.

“I was telling Lady Clavering that as soon as she can, she would be better if she left home for a while.”

“And why should you tell Lady Clavering that?”

“I have told him that I would not go,” said the poor woman.

“Why should she go, and where; and why have you proposed it?  And how does it come to pass that her going or not going should be a matter of solicitude to you?” Now, as Sir Hugh asked these questions of his cousin, there was much of offence in his tone—­of intended offence—­and in his eye, and in all his bearing.  He had turned his back upon his wife, and was looking full into Harry’s face; “Lady Clavering, no doubt, is much obliged to you,” he said, “but why is it that you specially have interfered to recommend her to leave her home at such a time as this?”