hesaid，whenhewasclosetoher。Thenshejumpedupquickly，andturnedroundfacinghim。’WhereisDobbs？’shesaid。’WhereisDobbs？’
’Heisnothere。’
’Heisinthehouse，forIheardhim。Whyhaveyoucomeback？’
Dalrymple’seyefellonthetatteredcanvas，andhethoughtofthedoingsofthepastmonth。HethoughtofthepictureofthethreeGraces，whichwashangingintheroombelow，andhethoroughlywishedthathehadneverbeenintroducedtotheBroughtonestablishment。Howwashetogetthroughhispresentdifficulty？’No，’saidhe，’Broughtondidnotcome。ItwasMrMusselborowhosestepsyouheardbelow。’
’Whatisheherefor？Whatishedoinghere？WhereisDobbs？Conway，thereissomethingthematter。Hashegoneoff？’
’Yes；——hehasgoneoff。’
’Thecoward！’
’No；hewasnotacoward；——notinthatway。’
Theuseofthepasttense，unintentionalasithadbeen，toldthestorytothewomanatonce。’Heisdead，’shesaid。Thenhetookbothherhandsinhisandlookedintoherface，withoutspeakingaword。Andshegazedathimwithfixedeyes，andrigidmouth，whilethequickcomingbreathjustmovedthecurlofhernostrils。Itoccurredtohimatthatmomentthathehadneverbeforeseenhersowhollyunaffected，andhadneverbeforeobservedthatshewassototallydeficientinalltheelementsofrealbeauty。Shewasthefirsttospeakagain。’Conway，’shesaid，’tellmeall。Whydoyounotspeaktome？’
’Thereisnothingfurthertotell，’hesaid。
Thenshedroppedherhandsandwalkedawayfromhimtothewindow——andstoodtherelookingoutuponthestuccoedturretofahugehousethatstoodopposite。Asshedidsoshewasemployingherselfincountingthewindows。Hermindwasparalysedbytheblow，andsheknewnothowtomakeanyexertionwithitforanypurpose。Everythingwaschangedwithher——andwaschangedinsuchawaythatshecouldmakenoguessastoherfuturemodeoflife。Shewassuddenlyawidow，apauper，andutterlydesolate——whiletheonlypersoninthewholeworldthatshereallylikedwasstandingclosetoher。Butinthemidstofitallshecountedthewindowsofthehouseopposite。Haditbeenpossibleforhershewouldhaveputhermindaltogethertosleep。
Heletherstandforafewminutesandthenjoinedheratthewindow。
’Myfriend，’hesaid，’whatshallIdoforyou？’
’Do？’shesaid。’Whatdoyoumeanby——doing？’
’Comeandsitdownandletmetalktoyou，’hereplied。Thenheledhertothesofa，andassheseatedherselfIdoubtwhethershehadnotalmostforgottenthatherhusbandwasdead。
’Whatapityitwastocutitup，’shesaid，pointingtotheragsofJaelandSisera。
’Nevermindthepicturenow。Dreadfulasitis，youmustallowyourselftothinkofhimforafewminutes。’
’Thinkofwhat！Oh，God！Yes。Conway，youmusttellmewhattodo。
Waseverythinggone？Itisn’taboutmyself。Idon’tmindaboutmyself。I
wishitwasmeinsteadofhim。Ido。Ido。’
’Nowishingisofanyavail。’
’But，Conway，howdidithappen？Doyouthinkitistrue？Thatmanwouldsayanythingtogainhisobject。Isheherenow？’
’Ibelieveheisherestill。’
’Iwon’tseehim。Rememberthat。Nothingonearthcanmakemeseehim。’
’Itmaybenecessary，butIdonotthinkitwillbe；——atanyrate，notyet。’
’Iwillneverseehim。Ibelievethathehasmurderedmyhusband。Ido。
Ifeelsureofit。NowIthinkofitIamquitesureofit。Andhewillmurderyoutoo；——aboutthatgirl。Hewill。ItellyouIknowtheman。’
Dalrymplesimplyshookhishead，smilingsadly。’Verywell！Youwillsee。But，Conway，howdoyouknowthatitistrue？Doyoubelieveityourself？’
’Idobelieveit。’
’Andhowdidithappen？’
’Hecouldnotbeartheruinthathehadbroughtuponhimselfandyou。’
’Then；——then——’Shewentnofurtherinherspeech；butDalrympleassentedbyaslightmotionofhishead，andshehadbeeninformedsufficientlythatherhusbandhadperishedbyhisownhand。’WhatamI
todo？’shesaid。’Oh，Conway，youmusttellme。Wasthereeversomiserableawoman！Wasit——poison？’
Hegotupandwalkedquicklyacrosstheroomandbackagaintotheplacewhereshewassitting。’Nevermindaboutthatnow。Youshallknowallthatintime。Donotaskmeanyquestionsaboutthat。IfIwereyouI
thinkIwouldgotobed。Youwillbebettertherethanup，andthisshockwillmakeyousleep。’
’No，’shesaid。’Iwillnotgotobed。HowshouldIknowthatthatmanwouldnotcomeandkillme？IbelievehemurderedDobbs；——Ido。Youarenotgoingtoleaveme，Conway？’
’IthinkIhadbetter，forawhile。Therearethingswhichshouldbedone。ShallIsendoneofthewomenforyou？’
’Thereisnotoneofthemthatcaresformeintheleast。Oh，Conway，donotgo；notyet。Iwillnotbeleftaloneinthehousewithhim。Youwillbeverycruelifyougoandleavemenow——whenyouhavesooftensaidthatyou——thatyou——thatyouweremyfriend。’Andnow，atlast，shebegantoweep。
’Ithinkitwillbebest，’hesaid，’thatIshouldgotoMrsVanSiever。
IfIcanmanageit，IwillgetClaratocometoyou。’
’Idonotwanther，’saidMrsBroughton。’Sheisaheartlesscoldcreature，andIdonotwanttohavehernearme。Mypoorhusbandwasruinedamongthem；——yes，ruinedamongthem。Ithasallbeendonethatshemaymarrythathorridmanandlivehereinthishouse。Ihaveknowneversolongthathehasnotbeensafeamongthem。’
’YouneedfearnothingfromClara，’saidDalrymple，withsometouchofangerinhisvoice。
’Ofcourseyouwillsayso。Icanunderstandthatverywell。Anditisnaturalthatyoushouldwishtobewithher。Praygo。’
Thenhesatbesideher，andtookherhand，andendeavouredtospeaktohersoseriously，thatsheherselfmightbecomeserious，andifitmightbepossible，insomedegreecontemplative。Hetoldherhownecessaryitwasthatsheshouldhavesomewomannearherinhertrouble，andexplainedtoherthatasfarasheknewherfemalefriends，therewouldbenoonewhowouldbesoconsideratewithherasClaraVanSiever。SheatonetimementionedthenameofMissDemolines；butDalrymplealtogetheropposedthenotionofsendingforthatlady——expressinghisopinionthattheamiableMadalinahaddoneallinherpowertocreatequarrelsbetweenMrsBroughtonandherhusbandandbetweenDobbsBroughtonandMrsVanSiever。AndhespokehisopinionveryfullyaboutMissDemolines。’Andyetyoulikedheronce，’saidMrsBroughton。’I
neverlikedher，’saidDalrymplewithenergy。’Butallthatmattersnothingnow。Ofcourseyoucansendforherifyouplease；butIdonotthinkhertrustworthy，andIwillnotwillinglycomeincontactwithher。’ThenMrsBroughtongavehimtounderstandthatofcourseshemustgiveway，butthatingivingwayshefeltherselftobesubmittingtoill—usagewhichistheordinarylotofwomen，andtowhichshe，amongwomen，hadbeenspeciallysubjected。Shedidnotexactlysayasmuch，fearingthatifshedidhewouldleaveheraltogether；butthatwasthegistofheplaintsandwails，andfinalacquiescence。
’Andareyougoing？’shesaid，catchingholdofhisarm。
’Iwillemploymyselfaltogetherandonlyaboutyouraffairs，tillIseeyouagain。’
’ButIwantyoutostay。’
’Itwouldbemadness。Lookhere；——liedowntillClaracomesortillI
return。Donotgobeyondthisroomandyourown。IfshecannotcomethiseveningIwillreturn。Good—byenow。IwillseetheservantsasIgoout，andtellthemwhatoughttobetold。’
’Oh，Conway，’shesaid，clutchingholdofhimagain。’Iknowthatyoudespiseme。’
’Idonotdespiseyou，andIwillbeasgoodafriendtoyouasIcan。
Godblessyou。’Thenhewent，andashedescendedthestairshecouldnotrefrainfromtellinghimselfthathedidintruthdespiseher。
HisfirstobjectwastofindMusselboro，andtodismissthatgentlemanfromthehouse。ForthoughhehimselfdidnotattributetoMrsVanSiever’sfavouriteanyofthoseterriblecrimesandpotentialitiesforcrimewithwhichMrsDobbsBroughtonhadinvestedhim，stillhethoughtitreasonablethatthepoorwomanupstairsshouldnotbesubjectedtothenecessityofeitherseeinghimorhearinghim。ButMusselborohadgone，andDalrymplecouldnotlearnfromtheheadwoman—servantwhomhesaw，whetherbeforegoinghehadtoldtoanyoneinthehousethetaleofthecatastrophewhichhadhappenedintheCity。Servantsarewonderfulactors，lookingoftenasthoughtheyknewnothingwhentheykneweverything——asthoughtheyunderstoodnothing，whentheyunderstoodall。
Dalrymplemadeknownallthatwasnecessary，andthediscreetupperservantlistenedtothetale，withtheproperamountofaweandhorrorandcommiseration。’ShothisselfintheCity；——laws！You’llexcuseme，sir，butweallknow’dasmasterwascomingtonogood。’Butshepromisedtodoherbestwithhermistress——andkeptherpromise。Itisseldomthatservantsarenotgoodinsuchstraitsasthat。
FromMrsBroughton’shouseDalrymplewentdirectlytoMrsVanSiever’s，andlearnedthatMusselborohadbeenthereabouthalfanhourbefore，andhadthengoneoffinacabwithMrsVanSiever。Itwasnownearlyfouro’clockintheafternoon，andnooneinthehouseknewwhenMrsVanSieverwouldbeback。MissVanSieverwasout，andhadbeenoutwhenMrMusselborohadcalled，butwasexpectedeveryminute。Conwaythereforesaidthathewouldcallagain，andonreturningfoundClaraalone。ShehadnotthenheardawordofthefateofDobbsBroughton。OfcourseshewouldgoatoncetoMrsBroughton，andifnecessarystaywithherduringthenight。Shewrotealineatoncetohermother，sayingwhereshewas，andwentacrosstoMrsBroughtonleaningonDalrymple’sarm。’Begoodtoher，’saidConway，asheleftheratthedoor。’Iwill，’saidClara。’I
willbeaskindasnaturewillallowme。’’Andremember，’saidConway，whisperingintoherearashepressedherhandatleavingher，’thatyouarethealltheworldtome。’Itwasperhapsnotapropertimeforanexpressionoflove，butClaraVanSieverforgavetheimpropriety。
CHAPTERLXV
MISSVANSIEVERMAKESHERCHOICE
ClaraVanSieverdidstayallnightwithMrsBroughton。Inthecourseoftheeveningshereceivedanotefromhermother，inwhichshewastoldtocomehometobreakfast。’Youcangobacktoherafterwards，’
saidMrsVanSiever；’andIwillseehermyselfinthecourseoftheday，ifshewillletme。’Thenotewaswrittenonascrapofpaper，andhadneitherbeginningnorend；butthiswasafterthemannerofMrsVanSiever，andClarawasnotintheleasthurtorsurprised。’Mymotherwillcometoseeyouafterbreakfast，’saidClara，asshewastakingherleave。
’Oh，goodness！AndwhatshallIsaytoher？’
’Youwillhavetosayverylittle。Shewillspeaktoyou。’
’Isupposeeverythingbelongstohernow，’saidMrsBroughton。
’Iknownothingaboutthat。Ineverdoknowanythingofmamma’smoneymatters。’
’Ofcourseshe’llturnmeout。Idonotmindabitaboutthat——onlyI
hopeshe’llletmehavesomemourning。’ThenshemadeClarapromisethatshewouldreturnassoonaspossible，havinginClara’spresenceovercomeallthatfeelingofdislikewhichshehadexpressedtoConwayDalrymple。MrsBroughtonwasgenerallyaffectionatetothosewhowerenearher。HadMusselboroforcedhimselfintoherpresence，shewouldhavebecomequiteconfidentialwithhimbeforehelefther。
’MrMusselborowillbeheredirectly，’saidMrsVanSiever，asshewasstartingforMrsBroughton’shouse。’Youhadbettertellhimtocometomeuphere；or，stop——perhapsyouhadbetterkeephimheretillIcomeback。Tellhimtobesureandwaitforme。’
’Verywell，mamma。Isupposehecanwaitbelow？’
’Whyshouldhewaitbelow？，’saidMrsVanSiever，veryangrily。
Clarahadmadetheuncourteouspropositiontohermotherwiththeexpressintentionofmakingitunderstoodthatshewouldhavenothingtosaytohim。’Hecancomeupstairsifhelikes，’saidClara；’andIwillgouptomyroom。’
’Ifyoufightshyofhim，miss，youmayrememberthis——thatyouwillfightshyofmeatthesametime。’
’Iamsorryforthat，mamma，forIshallcertainlyfightshyofMrMusselboro。’
’Youcandoasyouplease。Ican’tforceyou，andIshan’ttry。ButI
canmakeyourlifeaburdentoyou——andIwill。What’sthematterwiththemanthatheisn’tgoodenoughforyou？He’sasgoodasanyofyourownpeopleeverwas。Ihateyournew—fangledairs——withpicturespaintedonthesly，andalltherestofit。Ihatesuchways。Seewhattheyhavebroughtthatwretchedmanto，andthepoorfoolhiswife。Ifyougoandmarrythatpainter，someofthesedaysyou’llbeverymuchlikewhatsheis。OnlyIdoubtwhetherhehasgotthecourageenoughtoblowhisbrainsout。’Withthesecomfortablewords，theoldwomantookherselfoff，leavingClaratoentertainherloverasbestshemightchoose。
MrMusselborowasnotlongincoming，and，inaccordancewithMrsVanSiever’simplieddirectionstoherdaughter，wasshownupintothedrawing—room。Claragavehimhermother’smessageinaveryfewwords。
’Iwasexpresslytold，sir，toaskyoutostop，ifitisnotinconvenient，assheverymuchwantstoseeyou。’MrMusselborodeclaredthatofcoursehewouldstop。Hewasonlytoohappytohavetheopportunityofremaininginsuchdelightfulsociety。AsClaraanswerednothingtothis，hewentontosaythathehopedthatthemelancholyoccasionofMrsVanSiever’svisittoMrsBroughtonmightmakealongabsencenecessary——hedidnot，indeed，carehowlongitmightbe。Hehadrecoverednowfromthatpaleness，andthatwantofglovesandjewellerywhichhadbefallenhimonthepreviousdayimmediatelyafterthesighthehadseenintheCity。Claramadenoanswertothelastspeech，but，puttingsomethingstogetherinherwork—basket，preparedtoleavetheroom。’Ihopeyouarenotgoingtoleaveme？’hesaid，inavoicethatwasintendedtoconveymuchoflove，andsomethingofmelancholy。
’Iamsoshockedbywhathashappened，MrMusselboro，thatIamaltogetherunfitforconversation。IwaswithpoorMrsBroughtonlastnight，andIshallreturntoherwhenmammacomeshome。’
’Itissad，certainly；butwhatwastheretobeexpected？Ifyou’donlyseenhowheusedtogoon。’TothisClaramadenoanswer。’Don’tgoyet，’saidhe；’thereissomethingthatIwanttosaytoyou。Thereis，indeed。’
ClaraVanSieverwasayoungpersonwhosepresenceofmindrarelydesertedher。Itoccurredtohernowthatshemustundergoonsomeoccasionthenuisanceofadirectofferfromhim，andthatshecouldhavenobetteropportunityofansweringhimafterherownfashionthanthepresent。Hermotherwasabsent，andthefieldwasherown。And，moreover，itwasapointinherfavourthatthetragedywhichhadsolatelyoccurred，andtowhichshehadjustnowalluded，wouldgiveherafairexcuseforadditionalseverity。Atsuchamomentnomancould，shetoldherself，bejustifiedinmakinganofferofhislove，andthereforeshemightrebukehimwiththelessremorse。IwonderwhetherthelastwordswhichConwayDalrymplehadspokentoherstungherconscienceasshethoughtofthis！Shehadnowreachedthedoor，andwasstandingclosetoit。AsMrMusselborodidnotatonce，begin，sheencouragedhim。’Ifyouhaveanythingspecialtotellme，Iwillhearyou，’shesaid。
’MissClara，’hebegan，risingfromhischair，andcomingintothemiddleoftheroom。’Ithinkyouknowwhatmywishesare。’Thenheputhishanduponhisheart。’Andyourrespectedmotheristhesamewayofthinking。It’sthatthatemboldensmetobesosudden。Notbutwhatmyhearthasbeenyoursandyoursonlyallalong，beforetheoldladysomuchasmentionedit。’Clarawouldgivehimnoassistance，noteventheaidofanegative，butstoodtherequitepassive，withherhandonthedoor。’SinceIfirsthadthepleasureofseeingyouIhavealwayssaidtomyself，\"AugustusMusselboro，thatisthewomanforyou，ifyoucanonlywinher。\"Buttherewassomuchagainstme——wasn’tthere？’Shewouldnoteventakeadvantageofthisbyassuringhimthattherecertainlyalwayshadbeenmuchagainsthim，butallowedhimtogoontillheshouldrunoutallthelengthofhistether。’Imean，ofcourse，inthewayofmoney，’hecontinued。’Ihadn’tmuchthatIcouldcallmyownwhenyourrespectedmotherfirstallowedmetobecomeacquaintedwithyou。Butit’sdifferentnow；andIthinkImaysaythatI’mallrightinthatrespect。PoorBroughton’sgoingthiswaywillmakeitadealsmoothertome；andImaysaythatIandyourmammawillbeallinalltoeachothernowaboutmoney。’Thenhestopped。
’Idon’tquiteunderstandwhatyoumeanbyallthis，’saidClara。
’Imeanthatthereisn’tamoredevotedfellowinallLondonthanwhatI
amtoyou。’Thenhewasabouttogodownononeknee，butitoccurredtohimthatitwouldnotbeconvenienttokneeltoaladywhowouldstandquiteclosetothedoor。’Oneandone，ifthey’reputtogetherwell，willoftenmakemorethantwo。Andsotheyshallwithus，’saidMusselboro，whobegantofeelthatitmightbeexpedienttothrowalittlespiritintohiswords。
’Ifyouhavedone，’saidClara，’youmayaswellhearfrommeforaminute。AndIhopeyouwillhavethesensetounderstandthatIreallymeanwhatIsay。’
’Ihopeyouwillrememberwhatareyourmamma’swishes。’
’Mamma’swisheshavenoinfluencewhatsoeverwithmeinsuchmattersasthis。Mamma’sarrangementswithyouareforherownconvenience，andI
amnotpartytothem。Idonotknowanythingaboutmamma’smoney，andI
donotwanttoknow。ButundernopossiblecircumstanceswillIconsenttobecomeyourwife。Nothingthatmammacouldsayordowouldinducemeeventothinkofit。Ihopeyouwillbemanenoughtotakethisforananswer，andsaynothingmoreaboutit。’
’But，MissClara——’
’It’snogoodyourMissClaraingme，sir。WhatIhavesaidtoyoumaybesureImean。Good—morning，sir。’Thensheopenedthedoor，andlefthim。
’ByJove，sheisaTartar，’saidMusselborotohimself，whenhewasalone。’They’rebothTartars，buttheyoungeristheworse。’ThenhebegantospeculatewhetherFortunewasnotdoingthebestforhiminsoarrangingthathemighthaveuseoftheTartar—mother’smoneywithoutbindinghimselftoendureforlifetheTartarqualitiesofthedaughter。
IthadbeenunderstoodthatClarawastowaitathometillhermothershouldreturnbeforesheagainwenttoMrsBroughton。AtaboutelevenMrsVanSievercamein，andherdaughterinterceptedheratthedining—roomdoorbeforeshemadeherwayupstairstoMrMusselboro。’Howisshe，mamma？’saidClarawithsomethingofhypocrisyinherassumedinterestforMrsBroughton。
’Sheisanidiot！’saidMrsVanSiever。
’Shehashadaterriblemisfortune！’
’Thatisnoreasonwhysheshouldbeanidiot；andsheisheartlesstoo。
Shenevercaredabitforhim——notabit。’
’Hewasamanwhomitwasimpossibletocareformuch。Iwillgotohernow，mamma。’
’WhereisMusselboro？’
’Heisupstairs。’
’Well？’
’Mamma，thatisquiteoutofthequestion。Quite。Iwouldnotmarryhimtosavemyselffromstarving。’
’Youdonotknowwhatstarvingisyet，mydear。Tellmethetruthatonce。Areyouengagedtothatpainter？’Clarapausedamomentbeforesheanswered，nothesitatingastotheexpediencyoftellinghermotheranytruthonthematterinquestion，butdoubtingwhatthetruthmightreallybe。CouldshesaythatshewasengagedtoMrDalrymple，orcouldshesaythatshewasnot？’Ifyoutellmealie，miss，I’llhaveyouputoutatonce。’
’Icertainlyshallnottellyoualie。MrDalrymplehasaskedmetobehiswife，andIhavemadehimnoanswer。IfheasksmeagainIshallaccepthim。’
’ThenIorderyounottoleavethishouse，’saidMrsVanSiever。
’SurelyImaygotoMrsBroughton？’
’Iorderyounottoleavethishouse，’saidMrsVanSieveragain——andthereuponshestalkedoutofthedining—roomandwentupstairs。Clarahadbeenstandingwithherbonneton，readydressedtogoout，andthemothermadenoattempttosendthedaughteruptoherroom。ThatshedidnotexpecttobeobeyedinherordermaybeinferredfromthefirstwordswhichshespoketoMrMusselboro。’Shehasgoneofftothatmannow。Youarenotgood，Musselboro，atthiskindofwork。’
’Yousee，MrsVan，hehadthestartofmesomuch。AndthenbeingattheWestEnd，andallthat，givesamansuchastandingwithagirl。’
’Bother！’saidMrsVanSiever，ashequickearcaughtthesoundoftheclosinghall—door。Clarahadstoodaminuteortwotoconsider，andthenhadresolvedthatshewoulddisobeyhermother。Shetriedtoexcuseherownconducttoherownsatisfactionasshewent。’Therearesomethings，’shesaid，’whichevenadaughtercannothearfromhermother。
Ifshechoosestoclosethedooragainstme，shemustdoso。’
ShefoundMrsBroughtonstillinbed，andcouldnotbutagreewithhermotherthatthewomanwasbothsillyandheartless。
’Yourmothersaysthateverythingmustbesoldup，’saidMrsBroughton。
’Atanyrateyouwouldhardlychoosetoremainhere，’saidClara。
’ButIhopeshewillletmehavemyownthings。Agreatmanyofthemarealtogethermyown。Iknowthere’salawthatawomanmayhaveherownthings，eventhoughherhusbandhas——donewhatpoorDobbsdid。AndI
thinkshewasharduponmeaboutthemourning。Theyneverdomindgivingcreditforsuchthingsasthat，andthoughthereisabillduetoMrsMorellnow，shehashadadealofDobbs’smoney。’Clarapromisedherthatshewouldhavemourningtoherheart’scontent。’Iwillseetothatmyself，’shesaid。
Presentlytherewasaknockatthedoor，andthediscreethead—servantbeckonedClaraoutoftheroom。’Youarenotgoingaway，’saidMrsBroughton。Clarapromisedherthatshewouldnotgowithoutcomingbackagain。’Hewillbeheresoon，Isuppose，andperhapsyouhadbetterseehim；though，forthematterofthat，perhapsyouhadbetternot，becauseheissomuchcutupaboutpoorDobbs。’TheservanthadcometotellClarathatthe’he’inquestionwasatthepresentmomentwaitingforherbelowstairs。
ThefirstwordswhichpassedbetweenDalrympleandClarahadreferencetothewidow。HetoldherwhathehadlearnedintheCity——thatBroughton’spropertyhadneverbeengreat，andthathispersonalliabilitiesatthetimeofhisdeathweresupposedtobesmall。ButhehadfallenlatelyaltogetherintothehandsofMusselboro，who，thoughpennilesshimselfinthewayofcapital，wasbackedbythemoneyofMrsVanSiever。TherewasnotdoubtthatBroughtonhaddestroyedhimselfinthemannertoldbyMusselboro，buttheopinionintheCitywasthathehaddonesoratherthroughtheeffectsofdrinkthanbecauseofhislosses。Astothewidow，DalrymplethoughtthatMrsVanSiever，ornominally，perhaps，Musselboro，mightbeinducedtosettleanannuityonher，orshewouldgiveupeverythingquietly。’DoubtwhetheryourmotherisnotresponsibleforeverythingthatBroughtonowedwhenhedied——foreverything，thatis，inthewayofbusiness；andifso，MrsBroughtonwillcertainlyhaveaclaimontheestate。’ItoccurredtoDalrympleonceortwicethathewastalkingtoClaraaboutMrsVanSieverasthoughheandClaraweremorecloselyboundtogetherthanwereClaraandhermother；butClaraseemedtotakethisingoodpart，andwasassolicitousaswashehimselfinthemannerofMrsBroughton’sinterest。
Thenthediscreethead—servantknockedandtoldthemthatMrsBroughtonwasveryanxioustoseeMrDalrymple，butthatMissVanSieverwasonnoaccounttogoaway。Shewasup，andinherdressing—gown，andhadgoneintothesitting—room。’Iwillcomedirectly，’saidDalrymple，andthediscreethead—servantretired。