e
himself that he would not stand it for a day. In his own house he
would be master, and if there came tempests he would rule them. He
could at least promise himself that. As his mother had been strong,
so had his father been weak. But he had,--as he felt thankful in
knowing,--inherited his mother's strength rather than his father's
weakness. But, for all that, why have a tempest to rule at all? Even
though a man do rule his domestic tempests, he cannot have a very
quiet house with them. Then again he remembered how very easily Clara
had been won. He wished to be just to all men and women, and to Clara
among the number. He desired even to be generous to her,--with a
moderate generosity. But above all things he desired not to be duped.
What if Clara had in truth instigated her aunt to that deathbed
scene, as his mother had more than once suggested! He did not believe
it. He was sure that it had not been so. But what if it were so? His
desire to be generous and trusting was moderate;--but his desire not
to be cheated, not to be deceived, was immoderate. Upon the whole
might it not be well for him to wait a little longer, and ascertain
how Clara really intended to behave herself in this emergency of the
Askertons? Perhaps, after all, his mother might be right.

On the Sunday the expected letter came;--but before its contents are
made known, it will be well that we should go back to Belton, and see
what was done by Clara in reference to the tidings which her lover
had sent her.

CHAPTER XVIII.

MRS. ASKERTON'S STORY.

When Clara received the letter from Captain Aylmer on which so much
is supposed to hang, she made up her mind to say nothing of it to any
one,--not to think of it if she could avoid thinking of it,--till her
cousin should have left her. She could not mention it to him; for,
though there was no one from whom she would sooner have asked advice
than from him, even on so delicate a matter as this, she could not do
so in the present case, as her informant was her cousin's successful
rival. When, therefore, Mrs. Askerton on leaving the church had
spoken some customary word to Clara, begging her to come to the
cottage on the following day, Clara had been unable to answer,--not
having as yet made up her mind whether she would or would not go
to the cottage again. Of course the idea of consulting her father
occurred to her,--or rather the idea of telling him; but any such
telling would lead to some advice