e here?"

"Yes, Frederic, certainly. I do not know who could be more welcome.
But is she to be your wife?"

"We are engaged."

"But does not that letter break any engagement? Is there not enough
in that to make such a marriage quite out of the question? What do
you think about it yourself, Frederic?"

"I think that she should have another chance."

What would Clara have thought of all this herself, if she could have
heard the conversation between Lady Aylmer and her betrothed husband,
and have known that her lover was proposing to give her "another
chance?" But it is lucky for us that we seldom know what our best
friends say on our behalf, when they discuss us and our faults behind
our backs.

"What chance, Frederic, can she have? She knows all about this horrid
woman, and yet refuses to give her up! What chance can she have after
that?"

"I think that you might have her here,--and talk to her." Lady
Aylmer, in answer to this, simply shook her head. And I think she was
right in supposing that such shaking of her head was a sufficient
reply to her son's proposition. What talking could possibly be of
service to such a one as this Miss Amedroz? Why should she throw her
pearls before swine? "We must either ask her to come here, or else I
must go to her," said Captain Aylmer.

"I don't see that at all, Frederic."

"I think it must be so. As she is situated at present she has got no
home; and I think it would be very horrid that she should be driven
into that woman's house, simply because she has no other shelter for
her head."

"I suppose she can remain where she is for the present?"

"She is all alone, you know; and it must be very gloomy;--and her
cousin can turn her out at a moment's notice."

"But all that would not entitle her to come here, unless--"

"No;--I quite understand that. But you cannot wonder that I should
feel the hardship of her position."

"Who is to be blamed if it be hard? You see, Frederic, I take my
standing upon that letter;--her own letter. How am I to ask a young
woman into my house who declares openly that my opinion on such a
matter goes for nothing with her? How am I to do it? That's what I
ask you. How am I to do it? It's all very well for Belinda to suggest
this and that. But how am I to do it? That's what I want to know."

But at last Lady Aylmer managed to answer the question for herself,
and did do it. But this was not done on that Sunday afternoon, nor
on the Monday, no