fore, to assure
his brother that he would not marry,--nor did he hesitate, in writing
to Patience Underwood, to assure her that his love for her sister was
unchangeable. In saying so he urged no suit;--but it was impossible
that he should write to the house without some message, and none
other from him to her could be a true message. It could not hurt
her. It would not even give her the trouble to think whether she
had decided well. He quite understood the nature of the love he
wanted,--a love that would have felt it to be all happiness to lean
upon his bosom. Without this love he would not have wished to take
her;--and with such love as that he knew he could not fill her heart.
Therefore it was that he would satisfy himself with walking round the
churchyard of Newton Peele, and telling himself that the pleasure of
this world was best to be found in the pursuit of the joys of the
next.

CHAPTER XV.

CLARISSA WAITS.

When Patience and Clarissa had got to their own room on the night
on which they had walked back from Mrs. Brownlow's house to Popham
Villa,--during all which long walk Clarissa's hand had lain gently
upon Ralph Newton's arm,--the elder sister looked painfully and
anxiously into the younger's face, in order that, if it were
possible, she might learn without direct enquiry what had been said
during that hour of close communion. Had Ralph meant to speak there
could have been no time more appropriate. And Patience hardly knew
what she herself wished,--except that she wished that her sister
might have everything that was good and joyous and prosperous. There
was never a look of pain came across Clary's face, but Patience
suffered some touch of inner agony. This feeling was so strong that
she sympathised even with Clary's follies, and with Clary's faults.
She almost knew that it would not be well that Ralph Newton should be
encouraged as a lover,--brilliant as were his future prospects, and
dear, as he was personally to them all. He was a spendthrift, and
it might be that his fine prospects would all be wasted before they
were matured. And then their father would so probably disapprove!
And then, again, it was so wrong that Clary's peace should have been
disturbed and yet no word said to their father. There was much that
was wrong;--but still so absolute was her clinging love for Clary
that she longed above all things that Clary should be made happy.
When Ralph's brother had declared himself as a suit