She was quite sure that this man was some person laying a claim to it, and threatening to prosecute his claim at law.
It was a thousand pities that her brother should allow such a trifle as this,--for after all it was but a trifle, to fret his spirits and worry him in this way.

But it was the wretched state of his health: were he once himself again, all such annoyances as that would pass him by like the wind.
It must be acknowledged that Aunt Letty's memory in this respect was not exactly correct; for, as it happened, Sir Thomas held his little property in the city of London by as firm a tenure as the laws and customs of his country could give him; and seeing that his income thence arising came from ground rents near the river, on which property stood worth some hundreds of thousands, it was not very probable that his tenants should be in arrear.

But what she said had some effect upon Herbert.

He was not quite sure whether this might not be the cause of his father's grief; and if the story did not have much effect upon Lady Fitzgerald, at any rate it did as well as any other to exercise the ingenuity and affection of Aunt Letty.
Sir Thomas passed the whole of that day in his own room; but during a great portion of the day either his wife, or sister, or son was with him.

They endeavoured not to leave him alone with his own thoughts, feeling conscious that something preyed upon his mind, though ignorant as to what that something might be.
He was quite aware of the nature of their thoughts; perfectly conscious of the judgment they had formed respecting him.