’I say that she is particular and so she is.
And as my respect for her opinion is equal to my affection
for her person, I hope that you will make a great
effort to gain her esteem.’
’I never make any efforts of that kind.
If esteem doesn’t come without efforts it isn’t
worth having.’
’There I disagree with you altogether but I
especially disagree with you as you are speaking about
my mother, and about a lady who is to become your
own mother-in-law. I trust that you will make
such efforts, and that you will make them successfully.
Lady Aylmer is not a woman who will give you her heart
at once, simply because you have become her son’s
wife. She will judge you by your own qualities
and will not scruple to condemn you should she see
cause.’
Then there was a longer silence, and Clara’s
heart was almost in rebellion even on this, the first
day of her engagement. But she quelled her high
spirit, and said no further word about Lady Aylmer.
Nor did she speak again till she had enabled herself
to smile as she spoke.
‘Well, Fred,’ she said, putting her hand
upon his arm, ’I’ll do my best, and woman
can do no more. And now I’ll say good-night,
for I must pack for tomorrow’s journey before
I go to bed.’ Then he kissed her with a
cold, chilling kiss and she left him for the night.
MISS AMEDROZ RETURNS HOME
Clara was to start by a train leaving Perivale at
eight on the following morning, and therefore there
was not much time for conversation before she went.
During the night she had endeavoured so to school
herself as to banish from her breast all feelings of
anger against her lover, and of regret as regarded
herself. Probably, as she told herself, she had
made more of what he had said than he had intended
that she should do; and then, was it not natural that
he should think much of his mother, and feel anxious
as to the way in which she might receive his wife.
As to that feeling of anger on her own part, she did
get quit of it; but the regret was not to be so easily
removed. It was not only what Captain Aylmer had
said about his mother that clung to her, doing much
to quench her joy; but there had been a coldness in
his tone to her throughout the evening which she recognized
almost unconsciously, and which made her heart heavy
in spite of the joy which she repeatedly told herself
ought to be her own. And she also felt though
she was not clearly aware that she did so that his
manner towards her had become less affectionate, less
like that of a lover, since the honest tale she had
told him of her own early love for him. She should
have been less honest, and more discreet; less bold,
and more like in her words to the ordinary run of women.
She had known this as she was packing last night,
and she told herself that it was so as she was dressing
on this her last morning at Perivale. That frankness
