It had seemed to her that he also wished to take upon himself the cares and love of an adopted brother.

But as an adopted brother she would have nothing to do with him.

The two men whom she liked best in the world would assume each the wrong place; and between them both she felt that she would be left friendless.
On the Saturday afternoon they had both surmised how it was going to be with Mrs.Winterfield, and Captain Aylmer had told Mr.Palmer that he feared his coming on the Monday would be useless.

He explained also what was required, and declared that he would be at once ready to make good the deficiency in the will.

Mr.Palmer seemed to think that this would be better even than the making of a codicil in the last moments of the lady's life; and, therefore, he and Captain Aylmer were at rest on that subject.
During the greater part of the Saturday night both Clara and Captain Aylmer remained with their aunt; and once when the morning was almost there, and the last hour was near at hand, she had said a word or two which both of them had understood, in which she implored her darling Frederic to take a brother's care of Clara Amedroz.