iend returned it to her
without a word, and Clara was the first to speak again. "It is a nice
letter, is it not? I never saw her you know."

"So she says."

"But is it not a kind letter?"

"I suppose it is meant for kindness. It is not very complimentary
to me. It presumes that such a one as I may be treated without the
slightest consideration. And so I may. It is only fit that I should
be so treated. If you ask my advice, I advise you to go at once;--at
once."

"But I have not asked your advice, dear; nor do I intend to ask it."

"You would not have shown it me if you had not intended to go."

"How unreasonable you are! You told me just now that I was a
hypocrite for not telling you of my letter, and now you are angry
with me because I have shown it you."

"I am not angry. I think you have been quite right to show it me. I
don't know how else you could have acted upon it."

"But I do not mean to act upon it. I shall not go to Plaistow. There
are two reasons against it, each sufficient. I shall not leave you
just yet,--unless you send me away; and I shall not cause my cousin
to be turned out of his own house."

"Why should he be turned out? Why should you not go to him? You love
him;--and as for him, he is more in love than any man I ever knew. Go
to Plaistow Hall, and everything will run smooth."

"No, dear; I shall not do that."

"Then you are foolish. I am bound to tell you so, as I have inveigled
you here."

"I thought I had invited myself."

"No; I asked you to come, and when I asked you I knew that I was
wrong. Though I meant to be kind, I knew that I was unkind. I saw
that my husband disapproved it, though he had not the heart to tell
me so. I wish he had. I wish he had."

"Mrs. Askerton, I cannot tell you how much you wrong yourself, and
how you wrong me also. I am more than contented to be here."

"But you should not be contented to be here. It is just that. In
learning to love me,--or rather, perhaps, to pity me, you lower
yourself. Do you think that I do not see it all, and know it all? Of
course it is bad to be alone, but I have no right not to be alone."
There was nothing for Clara to do but to draw herself once again
close to the poor woman, and to embrace her with protestations of
fair, honest, equal regard and friendship. "Do you think I do not
understand that letter?" continued Mrs. Askerton. "If it had come
from Lady Aylmer I could have laughed at it, because I believe Lady
Aylmer