er arm was at first very gentle, but after a while she
pressed it closer, and thus by degrees drew her friend to her with an
eager, warm, and enduring pressure. Mrs. Askerton made some little
effort towards repelling her, some faint motion of resistance; but
as the embrace became warmer the poor woman yielded herself to it,
and allowed her face to fall upon Clara's shoulder. So they stood,
speaking no word, making no attempt to rid themselves of the tears
which were blinding their eyes, but gazing out through the moisture
on the bleak wintry scene before them. Clara's mind was the more
active at the moment, for she was resolving that in this episode
of her life she would accept no lesson whatever from Lady Aylmer's
teaching;--no, nor any lesson whatever from the teaching of any
Aylmer in existence. And as for the world's rules, she would fit
herself to them as best she could; but no such fitting should drive
her to the unwomanly cruelty of deserting this woman whom she had
known and loved,--and whom she now loved with a fervour which she had
never before felt towards her.

"You have heard it all now," said Mrs. Askerton at last.

"And is it not better so?"

"Ah;--I do not know. How should I know?"

"Do you not know?" And as she spoke Clara pressed her arm still
closer. "Do you not know yet?" Then, turning herself half round, she
clasped the other woman full in her arms, and kissed her forehead and
her lips.

"Do you not know yet?"

"But you will go away, and people will tell you that you are wrong."

"What people?" said Clara, thinking as she spoke of the whole family
at Aylmer Park.

"Your husband will tell you so."

"I have no husband,--as yet,--to order me what to think or what not
to think."

"No;--not quite as yet. But you will tell him all this."

"He knows it. It was he who told me."

"What!--Captain Aylmer?"

"Yes; Captain Aylmer."

"And what did he say?"

"Never mind. Captain Aylmer is not my husband,--not as yet. If he
takes me, he must take me as I am, not as he might possibly have
wished me to be. Lady Aylmer--"

"And does Lady Aylmer know it?"

"Yes. Lady Aylmer is one of those hard, severe women who never
forgive."

"Ah, I see it all now. I understand it all. Clara, you must forget
me, and come here no more. You shall not be ruined because you are
generous."

"Ruined! If Lady Aylmer's displeasure can ruin me, I must put up with
ruin. I will not accept her for my guide. I am too