d would
be exhibited then without reserve, and so there would be an end
altogether of the Aylmer alliance. But were she once to start for
Aylmer Park, then there would be no hope for him. Then her fate would
be decided,--and his. As far as he could see, too,--as far as he
could see then, there would be no dishonesty in this plan. Why should
Clara not go to Mrs. Askerton's house? What could be more natural
than such a visit at such a time? If she were in truth his sister
he would not interfere to prevent it if she wished it. He had told
himself that the woman should be forgiven her offence, and had
thought that that forgiveness should be complete. If the Aylmers
were so unreasonable as to quarrel with her on this ground, let
them quarrel with her. Mrs. Askerton had told him that Clara did
not really like Captain Aylmer. Perhaps it was so; and if so, what
greater kindness could he do her than give her an opportunity for
escaping such a union?

The whole of the next day he remained at Redicote, thinking,
doubting, striving to reconcile his wishes and his honesty. It rained
all day, and as he sat alone, smoking in the comfortless inn, he
told himself that the rain was keeping him;--but in truth it was not
the rain. Had he resolved to do his best to prevent this visit to
Yorkshire, or had he resolved to further it, I think he would have
gone to Belton without much fear of the rain. On the second day after
the funeral he did go, and he had then made up his mind. Clara,
if she would listen to him, should show her independence of Lady
Aylmer by staying a few days with the Askertons before she went to
Yorkshire, and by telling Lady Aylmer that such was her intention.
"If she really loves the man," he said to himself, "she will go at
once, in spite of anything that I can say. If she does not, I shall
be saving her."

"How cruel of you not to come yesterday!" Clara said, as soon as she
saw him.

"It rained hard," he answered.

"But men like you care so little for rain; but that is when you have
business to take you out,--or pleasure."

"You need not be so severe. The truth is I had things to trouble me."

"What troubled you, Will? I thought all the trouble was mine."

"I suppose everybody thinks that his own shoe pinches the hardest."

"Your shoe can't pinch you very bad, I should think. Sometimes when
I think of you it seems that you are an embodiment of prosperity and
happiness."

"I don't see it myself;--that's all