’Mary is older.  Besides, she loved the man, or thought she did.  I believe she thinks herself attached to him still.  But for Mary’s birth, there would have been a separation long ago.  There ought to have been; but, after my father’s death, there was no one to interfere!  What would I not have given to have been her brother!  Well!  I never could see why one like her was so visited—!’ Then rousing himself, as though tender reminiscences were waste of time, he added, ’There you see the cause of the caution I gave you with regard to Clara Dynevor.  It is not fair to expose a young woman to misconstructions and idle comments, which may goad her to vindicate her dignity by acting in a manner fatal to her happiness.  Now,’ he added, having drawn his moral, ’if we are to call on Clara, this would be the fittest time.  I have engaged for us both to dine at Lady Conway’s this evening:  I thought you would not object.’

‘Thank you; but I am sure you cannot wish to go out after such news.’

’There is not sufficient excuse for refusing.  There is to be no party, and it would be a marked thing to avoid it.’

Louis hazarded a suggestion that the meeting with Clara would be to little purpose if they were all to sit in state in the drawing-room; and she was asked for on the plea of going to see the new Houses of Parliament.  The Earl of Ormersfield’s card and compliments went upstairs, and Miss Frost Dynevor appeared, with a demure and astonished countenance, which changed instantly to ecstasy when she saw that the Earl was not alone.  Not at all afraid of love, but only of misconstructions, he goodnaturedly kept aloof, while Clara, clinging to Louis’s arm, was guided through the streets, and in and out among the blocks of carved stone on the banks of the Thames, interspersing her notes of admiration and his notes on heraldry with more comfortable confidences than had fallen to their lot through the holidays.

His first hope was that Clara might reveal some fact to throw light on the object of her brother’s affections, but her remarks only added to his perplexity.  Once, when they had been talking of poor Mary, and lamenting her fate in having to return to her father, Louis hazarded the conjecture that she might find an English home.

‘There is her aunt in Bryanston Square,’ said Clara.  ’Or if she would only live with us!  You see I am growing wise, as you call it:  I like her now.’

‘That may be fortunate,’ said Louis.  ’You know her destination according to Northwold gossip.’

’Nonsense!  Jem would scorn an heiress if she were ten times prettier.  He will never have an escutcheon of pretence like the one on the old soup tureen that the Lady of Eschalott broke, and Jane was so sorry for because it was the last of the old Cheveleigh china.’

Louis made another experiment.  ’Have you repented yet of giving away your clasp?’

’No, indeed!  Miss Conway always wears it.  She should be richly welcome to anything I have in the world.’