But at last Lady Aylmer managed to answer the question
for herself, and did do it. But this was not
done on that Sunday afternoon, nor on the Monday,
nor on the Tuesday. The question was closely debated,
and at last the anxious mother perceived that the
giving of the invitation would be more safe than withholding
it. Captain Aylmer at last expressed his determination
to go to Belton unless the invitation were given;
and then, should he do that, there might be danger
that he would never be again seen at Aylmer Park till
he brought Clara Amedroz with him as his wife.
The position was one of great difficulty, but the
interests at stake were so immense that something must
be risked. It might be that Clara would not come
when invited, and in that case her obstinacy would
be a great point gained. And if she came !
Well; Lady Aylmer admitted to herself that the game
would be difficult difficult and very troublesome;
but yet it might be played, and perhaps won. Lady
Aylmer was a woman who had great confidence in herself.
Not so utterly had victory in such contests deserted
her hands, that she need fear to break a lance with
Miss Amedroz beneath her own roof, when the occasion
was so pressing.
The invitation was therefore sent in a note written
by herself, and was enclosed in a letter from her
son. After much consultation and many doubts
on the subject, it was at last agreed that nothing
further should now be urged about Mrs Askerton.
‘She shall have her chance,’ said Lady
Aylmer over and over again, repeating her son’s
words. ’She shall have her chance.’
Lady Aylmer, therefore, in her note, confined herself
strictly to the giving of the invitation, and to a
suggestion that, as Clara had now no settled home
of her own, a temporary sojourn at Aylmer Park might
be expedient. And Captain Aylmer in his letter
hardly said much more. He knew, as he wrote the
words, that they were cold and comfortless, and that
he ought on such an occasion to have written words
that should have been warm at any rate, even though
they might not have contained comfort. But, to
have written with affection, he should have written
at once, and he had postponed his letter from the
Sunday till the Wednesday. It had been absolutely
necessary that that important question as to the invitation
should be answered before he could write at all.
When all this was settled he went up to London; and
there was an understanding between him and his mother
that he should return to Aylmer Park with Clara, in
the event of her acceptance of the invitation.
‘You won’t go down to Belton for her?’
said the mother.
‘No I do not think that will be necessary,’
said the son.
‘I should think not,’ said the mother.
CHAPTER XX
WILLIAM BELTON DOES NOT GO OUT HUNTING
Copyrights
The Belton Estate from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.
