r on the Tuesday. The question was closely debated,
and at last the anxious mother perceived that the giving of the
invitation would be more safe than withholding it. Captain Aylmer
at last expressed his determination to go to Belton unless the
invitation were given; and then, should he do that, there might be
danger that he would never be again seen at Aylmer Park till he
brought Clara Amedroz with him as his wife. The position was one of
great difficulty, but the interests at stake were so immense that
something must be risked. It might be that Clara would not come
when invited, and in that case her obstinacy would be a great point
gained. And if she did come--! Well; Lady Aylmer admitted to herself
that the game would be difficult,--difficult and very troublesome;
but yet it might be played, and perhaps won. Lady Aylmer was a woman
who had great confidence in herself. Not so utterly had victory in
such contests deserted her hands, that she need fear to break a lance
with Miss Amedroz beneath her own roof, when the occasion was so
pressing.

The invitation was therefore sent in a note written by herself,
and was enclosed in a letter from her son. After much consultation
and many doubts on the subject, it was at last agreed that nothing
further should now be urged about Mrs. Askerton. "She shall have her
chance," said Lady Aylmer over and over again, repeating her son's
words. "She shall have her chance." Lady Aylmer, therefore, in her
note, confined herself strictly to the giving of the invitation, and
to a suggestion that, as Clara had now no settled home of her own,
a temporary sojourn at Aylmer Park might be expedient. And Captain
Aylmer in his letter hardly said much more. He knew, as he wrote the
words, that they were cold and comfortless, and that he ought on such
an occasion to have written words that should have been warm at any
rate, even though they might not have contained comfort. But, to
have written with affection, he should have written at once, and he
had postponed his letter from the Sunday till the Wednesday. It had
been absolutely necessary that that important question as to the
invitation should be answered before he could write at all.

When all this was settled he went up to London; and there was an
understanding between him and his mother that he should return
to Aylmer Park with Clara, in the event of her acceptance of the
invitation.

"You won't go down to Belton for her?" said the mother.