And it was imperative that she herself should exercise her own opinion on many points, almost without reference to him.

She alone knew how utterly destitute she would be when he should die.

He, in the first days of his agony, had sobbed forth his remorse as to her ruin; but, even when doing so, he had comforted himself with the remembrance of Mrs.Winterfield's money, and Mrs.Winterfield's affection for his daughter.

And the aunt, when she had declared her purpose to Clara, had told herself that the provision made for Clara by her father was sufficient.

To neither of them had Clara told her own position.