ct. And such belief was natural on
her part. Mothers always so think of girls engaged to their sons,
and so think especially when the girls are penniless, and the sons
are well to do in the world. But such belief, though it is natural,
is sometimes wrong;--and it was altogether wrong in this instance.
"Then," said Clara, speaking very plainly, "nothing can be done."

"Very well, my dear."

After that there was not a word said between them till the carriage
was once more within the park. Then Lady Aylmer spoke again. "I
presume you see, my dear, that under these circumstances any
thought of marriage between you and my son must be quite out of the
question,--at any rate for a great many years."

"I will speak to Captain Aylmer about it, Lady Aylmer."

"Very well, my dear. So do. Of course he is his own master. But he is
my son as well, and I cannot see him sacrificed without an effort to
save him."

When Clara came down to dinner on that day she was again Miss
Amedroz, and she could perceive,--from Belinda's manner quite as
plainly as from that of her ladyship,--that she was to have no more
tit-bits of hashed chicken specially picked out for her by Lady
Aylmer's own fork. That evening and the two next days passed, just
as had passed the two first days, and everything was dull, cold, and
uncomfortable. Twice she had walked out with Frederic, and on each
occasion had thought that he would refer to what his mother had said;
but he did not venture to touch upon the subject. Clara more than
once thought that she would do so herself; but when the moments came
she found that it was impossible. She could not bring herself to say
anything that should have the appearance of a desire on her part to
hurry on a marriage. She could not say to him, "If you are too poor
to be married,--or even if you mean to put forward that pretence,
say so at once." He still called her Clara, and still asked her to
walk with him, and still talked, when they were alone together, in
a distant cold way, of the events of their future combined life.
Would they live at Perivale? Would it be necessary to refurnish the
house? Should he keep any of the land on his own hands? These are
all interesting subjects of discussion between an engaged man and
the girl to whom he is engaged; but the man, if he wish to make
them thoroughly pleasant to the lady, should throw something of the
urgency of a determined and immediate purpose into the discussion.
Something