"And mamma says that my brother would of course wish it."

"After what your mother has done, I don't see what his wishes would
have to do with it,--even if she knew them,--which I don't think she
does."

"But if you will think of it, I'm sure you'll find it is the proper
thing to do. There is nothing to be avoided so much as an open
quarrel, that all the servants can see."

"I must say, Miss Aylmer, that I disregard the servants. After what
passed down-stairs, of course I have had to consider what I should
do. Will you tell your mother that I will stay here, if she will
permit it?"

"Of course. She will be delighted."

"I will remain, if she will permit it, till the morning after Captain
Aylmer's arrival. Then I shall go."

"Where to, Miss Amedroz?"

"I have already written to a friend, asking her to receive me."

Miss Aylmer paused a moment before she asked her next question;--but
she did ask it, showing by her tone and manner that she had been
driven to summon up all her courage to enable her to do so. "To what
friend, Miss Amedroz? Mamma will be glad to know."

"That is a question which Lady Aylmer can have no right to ask," said
Clara.

"Oh;--very well. Of course, if you don't like to tell, there's no
more to be said."

"I do not like to tell, Miss Aylmer."

Clara had her tea in her room that evening, and lived there the
whole of the next day. The family down-stairs was not comfortable.
Sir Anthony could not be made to understand why his guest kept her
room,--which was not odd, as Lady Aylmer was very sparing in the
information she gave him; and Belinda found it to be impossible to
sit at table, or to say a few words to her father and mother, without
showing at every moment her consciousness that a crisis had occurred.
By the next day's post the letter to Mrs. Askerton was sent, and
at the appointed time Captain Aylmer arrived. About an hour after
he entered the house, Belinda went up-stairs with a message from
him;--would Miss Amedroz see him? Miss Amedroz would see him, but
made it a condition of doing so that she should not be required to
meet Lady Aylmer. "She need not be afraid," said Lady Aylmer. "Unless
she sends me a full apology, with a promise that she will have no
further intercourse whatever with that woman, I will never willingly
see her again." A meeting was therefore arranged between Captain
Aylmer and Miss Amedroz in a sitting-room up-stairs.

"What is all this, Clara?" said Captai