. Did you write to Lady Aylmer,
Clara?"

"I wrote; but I didn't send it. I would not send any letter till
I had shown it to you, as you are my confessor and adviser. There;
read it. Nothing, I think, could be more courteous or less humble."
He took the letter and read it. Clara had simply expressed herself
willing to accept Lady Aylmer's invitation, and asked her ladyship to
fix a day. There was no mention of Captain Aylmer's name in the note.

"And you think this is best?" he said. His voice was hardly like his
own as he spoke. There was wanting to it that tone of self-assurance
which his voice almost always possessed, even when self-assurance was
lacking to his words.

"I thought it was your own advice," she said.

"Well;--yes; that is, I don't quite know. You couldn't go for a week
or so yet, I suppose."

"Perhaps in about a week."

"And what will you do till then?"

"What will I do!"

"Yes;--where do you mean to stay?"

"I thought, Will, that perhaps you would let me--remain here."

"Let you!--Oh, heavens! Look here, Clara."

"What is it, Will?"

"Before heaven I want to do for you what may be the best for
you,--without thinking of myself;--without thinking of myself, if I
could only help it."

"I have never doubted you. I never will doubt you. I believe in you
next to my God. I do, Will; I do." He walked up and down the room
half-a-dozen times before he spoke again, while she stood by the
table watching him. "I wish," she said, "I knew what it is that
troubles you." To this he made no answer, but went on walking till
she came up to him, and putting both her hands upon his arm said, "It
will be better, Will, that I should go;--will it not? Speak to me,
and say so. I feel that it will be better." Then he stopped in his
walk and looked down upon her, as her hands still rested upon his
shoulder. He gazed upon her for some few seconds, remaining quite
motionless, and then, opening his arms, he surrounded her with his
embrace, and pressing her with all his strength close to his bosom,
kissed her forehead, and her cheeks, and her lips, and her eyes. His
will was so masterful, his strength so great, and his motion so
quick, that she was powerless to escape from him till he relaxed his
hold. Indeed she hardly struggled, so much was she surprised and so
soon released. But the moment that he left her he saw that her face
was burning red, and that the tears were streaming from her eyes. She
stood for a momen