it not occur to him that some John may have also sat with his arm
round Anna's waist,--that Anna whom he is leading to the altar? These
things should not be inquired into too curiously; but the curiosity
of some men on such matters has no end. For the most part, women like
telling,--only they do not choose to be pressed beyond their own
modes of utterance. "I should like to know that I have your full
confidence," said he.

"You have got my full confidence," she replied.

"I mean that you should tell me anything that there is to be told."

"It was only this, that I had learned to love you before I thought
that my love would be returned."

"Oh;--was that it?" said Captain Aylmer, in a tone which seemed to
imply something like disappointment.

"Yes, Fred; that was it. And how could I, under such circumstances,
trust myself to be gentle with you, or to look to you for assistance?
How could I guess then all that I know now?"

"Of course you couldn't."

"And therefore I was driven to be harsh. My aunt used to speak to me
about it."

"I don't wonder at that, for she was very anxious that we should be
married."

Clara for a moment felt herself to be uncomfortable as she heard
these words, half perceiving that they implied some instigation on
the part of Mrs. Winterfield. Could it be that Captain Aylmer's offer
had been made in obedience to a promise? "Did you know of her
anxiety?" she asked.

"Well;--yes; that is to say, I guessed it. It was natural enough that
the same idea should come to her and to me too. Of course, seeing us
so much thrown together, she could not but think of our being married
as a chance upon the cards."

"She used to tell me that I was harsh to you;--abrupt, she called it.
But what could I do? I'll tell you, Fred, how I first found out that
I really cared for you. What I tell you now is of course a secret;
and I should speak of it to no one under any circumstances but those
which unite us two together. My cousin Will, when he was at Belton,
made me an offer."

"He did, did he? You did not tell me that when you were saying all
those fine things in his praise in the railway carriage."

"Of course I did not. Why should I? I wasn't bound to tell you my
secrets then, sir."

"But he did absolutely offer to you?"

"Is there anything so wonderful in that? But, wonderful or not, he
did."

"And you refused him?"

"I refused him certainly."

"It wouldn't have been a bad match, if all that