so he
said to himself afterwards, having perhaps but a loose idea of the
different functions of these four different properties--a thorough
conviction that as he and Clara had sworn to each other that for life
they would live together and love each other, no misfortune to either
of them could justify the other in breaking that oath;--could even
justify him in breaking it, though he was the one on whom misfortune
had fallen. He, no doubt, had first loved Clara for her beauty; but
would he have ceased to love her, or have cast her from him, if,
by God's will, her beauty had perished and gone from her? Would he
not have held her closer to his heart, and told her, with strong
comforting vows, that his love had now gone deeper than that; that
they were already of the same bone, of the same flesh, of the same
family and hearthstone? He knew himself in this, and knew that he
would have been proud so to do, and so to feel,--that he would have
cast from him with utter indignation any who would have counselled
him to do or to feel differently. And why should Clara's heart be
different from his?

All this, I say, was his strong conviction. But, nevertheless, her
heart might be different. She might look on that engagement of theirs
with altogether other thoughts and other ideas; and if so his voice
should never reproach her;--not his voice, however his heart might
do so. Such might be the case with her, but he did not think it; and
therefore he would not pronounce that decision which Clara's mother
expected from him.

"When you have told her of this, I suppose I may be allowed to see
her," he said, avoiding the direct proposition which Lady Desmond had
made to him.

"Allowed to see her?" said Lady Desmond, now also in her turn
speaking very slowly. "I cannot answer that question as yet; not
quite immediately, I should say. But if you will leave the matter in
my hands, I will write to you, if not to-morrow, then the next day."

"I would sooner that she should write."

"I cannot promise that--I do not know how far her good sense and
strength may support her under this affliction. That she will suffer
terribly, on your account as well as on her own, you may be quite
sure." And then, again, there was a pause of some moments.

"I at any rate shall write to her," he then said, "and shall tell
her that I expect her to see me. Her will in this matter shall be my
will. If she thinks that her misery will be greater in being engaged