Has the question been considered?
In the event of Sir Edgar bringing a young wife here, what is to become of me ?" There was a mocking smile on her beautiful face; her dark eyes flashed from one to the other of us; we felt uncomfortable.

She had just hit upon the weak point that disturbed us all, the one cloud in a clear sky.
As no one else seemed inclined to speak, I answered: "Everything will be done for your comfort, Coralie; you may be sure of that, for Sir Barnard's sake." "And not for my own ?" she said.

"What is your idea of comfort, Sir Edgar?
Do you propose offering me a little cottage and a few pounds per week?
That would not content me." She looked so imperial, so beautiful, that I wondered involuntarily what would content her, she who might have anything.
"Whatever you yourself think right, Coralie, you shall have." I saw a strong disapproval in Lady Thesiger's face, and Coralie's quick eyes, following mine, read the same.
"Ah!" she said, hastily, "Lady Thesiger does not approve of carte blanche to ambitious cousins." Lady Thesiger really restrained herself; she was tempted to speak--I saw that--but refrained.
"The best plan," said Sir John, calmly, "would be for Mademoiselle d'Aubergne to say what she herself wishes." "I will tell you," she replied, "what I claim." Then, as we looked up at her in wonder, she continued, with bland calmness: "I claim as my own and right, on the part of my infant son, the whole of the estate and revenues of Crown Anstey.

I claim, as widow of the late Miles Trevelyan, Esq., my share of all due to me at his death." A thunder-bolt falling in our midst would not have alarmed us as those words did.

Sir John looked sternly at her.
"In the name of heaven, what do you mean ?" "Just what I say, Sir John.