Why indeed except that it was needful for him that
she should know the depth of his passion. ’If
you will forgive me, Clara, I will not offend you
so again,’ he said.
’You have offended me. What am I to say?
What am I to do? I have no other friend.’
‘I am a wretch. I know that I am a wretch.’
‘I did not suspect that you would be so cruel.
Oh, Will!’
But before he went she told him that she had forgiven
him, and she had preached to him a solemn, sweet sermon
on the wickedness of yielding, to momentary impulses.
Her low, grave words sank into his ears as though
they were divine; and when she said a word to him,
blushing as she spoke, of the sin of his passion and
of what her sin would be, if she were to permit it,
he sat by her weeping like an infant, tears which
were certainly tears of innocence. She had been
very angry with him; but I think she loved him better
when, her sermon was finished than she had ever loved
him before.
There was no further question as to her going to Aylmer
Castle, nor was any mention made of Mrs Askerton’s
invitation to the cottage. The letter for Lady
Aylmer was sent, and it was agreed between them that
Will should remain at Redicote till the answer from
Yorkshire should come, and should then convey Clara
as far as London on her journey. And when he
took leave of her that afternoon, she was able to give
him her hand in her old hearty, loving way, and to
call him Will with the old hearty, loving tone.
And he he was able to accept these tokens of her graciousness,
as though they were signs of a pardon which she had
been good to give, but which he certainly had not
deserved.
As he went back to Redicote, he swore to himself that
he would never love any woman but her even though
she must be the wife of Captain Aylmer.
THE LAST DAY AT BELTON
In course of post there came an answer from Lady Aylmer,
naming a day for Clara’s journey to Yorkshire,
and also a letter from Captain Aylmer, in, which he
stated that he would meet her in London and convey
her down to Aylmer Park. ‘The House is sitting,’
he said, ’and therefore I shall be a little
troubled about my time; but I cannot allow that your
first meeting with my mother should take place in my
absence.’ This was all very well, but at
the end of the letter there was a word of caution
that was not so well. ’I am sure, my dear
Clara, that you will remember how much is due to my
mother’s age, and character, and position.
Nothing will be wanted to the happiness of our marriage,
if you can succeed in gaining her affection, and therefore
I make it my first request to you, that you should
endeavour to win her good opinion.’ There
was nothing perhaps really amiss, certainly nothing
unreasonable, in such words from a future husband to
his future wife; but Clara, as she read them, shook
her head and pressed her foot against the ground in
anger. It would not do. Sorrow would come
and trouble and disappointment. She did not say
so, even to herself in words; but the words, though
not spoken, were audible enough to herself. She
could not, would not, bend to Lady Aylmer, and she
knew that trouble would come of this visit.
