nd then I shan't
trouble you any more. But look here,--if ever you should ill-treat
her, whether you marry her or whether you don't, I'll crush every
bone in your skin." Having so spoken he went to the door, but stopped
himself before he left the room. "Good-bye, Clara. I've got a word or
two more to say to you, but I'll write you a line down-stairs. You
can show it to him if you please. It'll only be about business.
Good-night."

She had got up and followed him to the door, and he had taken her by
the hand. "You shouldn't let your passion get the better of you in
this way," she said; but the tone of her voice was very soft, and her
eyes were full of love.

"I suppose not," said he.

"I can forgive him," said Captain Aylmer.

"D---- your forgiveness," said Will Belton. Then Clara dropped the
hand and started back, and the door was shut, and Will Belton was
gone.

"Your cousin seems to be a nice sort of young man," said Aylmer.

"Cannot you understand it all, Frederic, and pardon him?"

"I can pardon him easily enough; but one doesn't like men who are
given to threatening. He's not the sort of man that I took him to
be."

"Upon my word I think he's as nearly perfect as a man can be."

"Then you like men to swear at you, and to swagger like Bobadils,
and to misbehave themselves, so that one has to blush for them if
a servant chances to hear them. Do you really think that he has
conducted himself to-day like a gentleman?"

"I know that he is a gentleman," said Clara.

"I must confess I have no reason for supposing him to be so but your
assurance."

"And I hope that is sufficient, Frederic."

Captain Aylmer did not answer her at once, but sat for awhile silent,
considering what he would say. Clara, who understood his moods, knew
that he did not mean to drop the subject, and resolved that she would
defend her cousin, let Captain Aylmer attack him as he would.

"Upon my word, I hardly know what to say about it," said Aylmer.

"Suppose, then, that we say nothing more. Will not that be best?"

"No, Clara. I cannot now let the matter pass by in that way. You have
asked me whether I do not think Mr. Belton to be a gentleman, and I
must say that I doubt it. Pray hear me out before you answer me. I
do not want to be harder upon him than I can help; and I would have
borne, and I did bear from him, a great deal in silence. But he said
that to me which I cannot allow to pass without notice. He had the
bad taste t