band something of the conversation that had passed between him
and Clara, or whether she had some other source of information,--or
whether her conduct might proceed from other grounds, we need not
inquire; but from that afternoon Lady Aylmer's manner and words to
Clara became much less courteous than they had been before. She would
always speak as though some great iniquity was being committed, and
went about the house with a portentous frown, as though some terrible
measure must soon be taken with the object of putting an end to the
present extremely improper state of things. All this was so manifest
to Clara, that she said to Sir Anthony one day that she could no
longer bear the look of Lady Aylmer's displeasure,--and that she
would be forced to leave Aylmer Park before Frederic's return, unless
the evil were mitigated. She had by this time told Sir Anthony that
she much doubted whether the marriage would be possible, and that she
really believed that it would be best for all parties that the idea
should be abandoned. Sir Anthony, when he heard this, could only
shake his head and hobble away. The trouble was too deep for him to
cure.

But Clara still held on; and now there wanted but two days to Captain
Aylmer's return, when, all suddenly, there arose a terrible storm at
Aylmer Park, and then came a direct and positive quarrel between Lady
Aylmer and Clara,--a quarrel direct and positive, and, on the part of
both ladies, very violent.

Nothing had hitherto been said at Aylmer Park about Mrs.
Askerton,--nothing, that is, since Clara's arrival. And Clara had
been thankful for this silence. The letter which Captain Aylmer had
written to her about Mrs. Askerton will perhaps be remembered, and
Clara's answer to that letter. The Aylmer Park opinion as to this
poor woman, and as to Clara's future conduct towards the poor woman,
had been expressed very strongly; and Clara had as strongly resolved
that she would not be guided by Aylmer Park opinions in that matter.
She had anticipated much that was disagreeable on this subject, and
had therefore congratulated herself not a little on the absence of
all allusion to it. But Lady Aylmer had, in truth, kept Mrs. Askerton
in reserve, as a battery to be used against Miss Amedroz if all other
modes of attack should fail,--as a weapon which would be powerful
when other weapons had been powerless. For awhile she had thought
it possible that Clara might be the owner of the Belton estat