"Dear me!" said Mrs.Winterfield.

"And yet his wife was housekeeper formerly in a family that lived very well!" The Mrs.
Winterfields of this world allow themselves little spiteful pleasures of this kind, repenting of them, no doubt, in those frequent moments in which they talk to their friends of their own terrible vilenesses.
Captain Aylmer then explained that his own health had been drunk, and his aunt desired to know whether, in returning thanks, he had been able to say anything further against that wicked Divorce Act of Parliament.

This her nephew was constrained to answer with a negative, and so the conversation was carried on till tea was over.
She was very anxious to hear every word that he could be made to utter as to his own doings in Parliament, and as to his doings in Perivale, and hung upon him with that wondrous affection which old people with warm hearts feel for those whom they have selected as their favourites.

Clara saw it all, and knew that her aunt was almost doting.
"I think I'll go up to bed now, my dears," said Mrs.Winterfield, when she had taken her cup of tea.

"I am tired with those weary stairs in the Town-hall, and I shall be better in my own room." Clara offered to go with her, but this attendance her aunt declined,--as she did always.