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CHAPTER IX.

THE years that bring the philosophic mind and the ever-widening waistband had also brought to Clare a keener insight into the character and affairs of her neighbours than most people had any idea of. She noticed that Alice was distrait and out of sorts, but she said nothing, though she listened to a good deal; and, indeed, with Mrs. Burton at her elbow, she could have no excuse for ignorance of the inmost thoughts or failings of anyone within ten miles of circuit. But it was Clare’s favourite motto that we should let sleeping dogs lie. The question never occurred to her, “Are the dogs really asleep, or only shutting one eye that they may devour us more conveniently at their leisure?” Besides, Clare was in a very happy frame of mind, expecting “the captain” over to see his family in a few weeks, and it was her firm belief that there were very few things in our philosophy that Henry could not put to rights (under Pro-

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