But on the afternoon of the third day there seemed to have come a change over Lady Aylmer.  At lunch she was especially civil civil to the extent of picking out herself for Clara, with her own fork, the breast of a hashed fowl from a dish that was before her.  This she did with considerable care I may say, with a show of care; and then, though she did not absolutely call Clara by her Christian name, she did call her ‘my dear’.  Clara saw it all, and felt that the usual placidity of the afternoon would be broken by some special event.  At three o’clock, when the carriage as usual came to the door, Belinda was out of the way, and Clara was made to understand that she and Lady Aylmer were to be driven out without any other companion.  ’Belinda is a little busy, my dear.  So, if you don’t mind, we’ll go alone.’  Clara of course assented, and got into the carriage with a conviction that now she would hear her fate.  She was rather inclined to think that Lady Aylmer was about to tell her that she had failed in obtaining the approbation of Aylmer Park, and that she must be returned as goods of a description inferior to the order given.  If such were the case, the breast of the chicken had no doubt been administered as consolation.  Clara had endeavoured, since she had been at Aylmer Park, to investigate her own feelings in reference to Captain Aylmer; but had failed, and knew that she had failed.  She wished to think that she loved him, as she could not endure the thought of having accepted a man whom she did not love.  And she told herself that he bad done nothing to forfeit her love.  A woman who really loves will hardly allow that her love should be forfeited by any fault.  True love breeds forgiveness for all faults.  And, after all, of what fault had Captain Aylmer been guilty?  He had preached to her out of his mother’s mouth.  That had been all!  She had first accepted him, and then rejected him, and then accepted him again; and now she would fain be firm, if firmness were only possible to her.  Nevertheless, if she were told that she was to be returned as inferior, she would hold up her head under such disgrace as best she might, and would not let the tidings break her heart.

‘My dear,’ said Lady Aylmer, as soon as the trotting horses and rolling wheels made noise enough to prevent her words from reaching the servants on the box.  ’I want to say a few words to you and I think that this will be a good opportunity.’

‘A very good opportunity,’ said Clara.

’Of course, my dear, you are aware that I have heard of something going on between you and my son Frederic.’  Now that Lady Aylmer had taught herself to call Clara ‘my dear’, it seemed that she could hardly call her so often enough.

’Of course I know that Captain Aylmer has told you of our engagement.  But for that, I should not be here.’

‘I don’t know how that might be,’ said Lady Aylmer; ’but at any rate, my dear, he has told me that since the day of my sister’s death there has been in point of fact, a sort of engagement.’