p from his
chair, and walking once up and down the room. Then he returned to it,
and repeated his words. "I will not take that answer from you. An
engagement such as ours cannot be put aside like an old glove. You
do not mean to tell me that all that has been between us is to mean
nothing." There was something now like feeling in his tone, something
like passion in his gesture, and Clara, though she had no thought
of changing her purpose, was becoming unhappy at the idea of his
unhappiness.

"It has meant nothing," she said. "We have been like children
together, playing at being in love. It is a game from which you will
come out scatheless, but I have been scalded."

"Scalded!"

"Well;--never mind. I do not mean to complain, and certainly not of
you."

"I have come here all the way from Yorkshire in order that things may
be put right between us."

"You have been very good,--very good to come, and I will not say that
I regret your trouble. It is best, I think, that we should meet each
other once more face to face, so that we may understand each other.
There was no understanding anything during those terrible days at
Aylmer Park." Then she paused, but as he did not speak at once she
went on. "I do not blame you for anything that has taken place, but I
am quite sure of this,--that you and I could never be happy together
as man and wife."

"I do not know why you say so; I do not indeed."

"You would disapprove of everything that I should do. You do
disapprove of what I am doing now."

"Disapprove of what?"

"I am staying with my friend, Mrs. Askerton."

He felt that this was hard upon him. As she had shown herself
inclined to withdraw herself from him, he had become more resolute in
his desire to follow her up, and to hold by his engagement. He was
not employed now in giving her another chance,--as he had proposed to
himself to do,--but was using what eloquence he had to obtain another
chance for himself. Lady Aylmer had almost made him believe that
Clara would be the suppliant, but now he was the suppliant himself.
In his anxiety to keep her he was willing even to pass over her
terrible iniquity in regard to Mrs. Askerton,--that great sin which
had led to all these troubles. He had once written to her about Mrs.
Askerton, using very strong language, and threatening her with his
mother's full displeasure. At that time Mrs. Askerton had simply been
her friend. There had been no question then of her taking refu