CHAPTER XXII.
Desolation In the meantime there was grief down at the great house of Clavering; and grief, we must suppose also, at the house in Berkeley Square, as soon as the news from his country home had reached Sir Hugh Clavering.
Little Hughy, his heir, was dead.

Early one morning, Mrs.Clavering, at the rectory, received a message from Lady Clavering, begging that she would go up to the house, and, on arriving there, she found that the poor child was very ill.

The doctor was then at Clavering, and had recommended that a message should be sent to the father in London, begging him to come down.

This message had been already despatched when Mrs.Clavering arrived.

The poor mother was in a state of terrible agony, but at that time there was yet hope.