It is a pity he should ever have married, for he wants nothing that a wife can do for him.

He wanted a boy to come after him in the estate, and now that glory has been taken from him.

Mrs.
Clavering, I often wish that I could die." It would be bootless here to repeat the words of wise and loving counsel with which the elder of the two ladies endeavored to comfort the younger, and to make her understand what were the duties which still remained to her, and which, if they were rightly performed, would, in their performance, soften the misery of her lot.

Lady Clavering listened with that dull, useless attention which on such occasions sorrow always gives to the prudent counsels of friendship; but she was thinking ever and always of her husband, and watching the moment of his expected return.

In her heart she wished that he might not come on that evening.
At last, at half-past nine, she exerted herself to send away her visitor.
"He will be here soon, if he comes to-night," Lady Clavering said, "and it will be better that he should find me alone." "Will it be better ?" "Yes, yes.