iChina.com

‘Yes. Fred; that was It. And how could I, under such circumstances, trust myself to be gentle with you, or to look to you for assistance? How could I guess then all that I know now?’ ‘Of course you couldn’t.’ ‘And therefore I was driven to be harsh. My aunt used to speak to me about it.’ ‘I don’t wonder at that, for she was very anxious that we should be married.’ Clara for a moment felt herself to be uncomfortable as she heard these words, half perceiving that they implied some instigation on the part of Mrs Winterfield. Could it be that Captain Aylmer’s offer had been made in obedience to a promise? ‘Did you know of her anxiety?’ she asked. ‘Well yes; that is to say, I guessed it. It was natural enough that the same idea should come to her and to me too. Of course, seeing us so much thrown together, she could not but think of our being married as a chance upon the cards.’ ‘She used to tell me that I was harsh to you abrupt, she called it. But what could I do? I’ll tell you, Fred, how I first found out that I really cared for you. What I tell you now is of course a secret; and I should speak of it to no one under any circumstances but those which unite us two together. My Cousin Will, when he was at Belton, made me an offer.’ ‘He did, did he? You did not tell me that when you were saying all those fine things in his praise in the railway carriage.’ Of course I did not. Why should I? I wasn’t bound to tell you my secrets then, sir.’