’Turn rusty!  What am I to think of a young lady who is prepared to turn rusty at once, too because she is cautioned by the mother of the man she professes to love against an improper acquaintance against an acquaintance so very improper?’ Lady Aylmer’s eloquence should have been heard to be appreciated.  It is but tame to say that she raised her fat arms and fat hands, and wagged her front her front that was the more formidable as it was the old one, somewhat rough and dishevelled, which she was wont to wear in the morning.  The emphasis of her words should have been heard, and the fitting solemnity of her action should have been seen.  ‘If there were any doubt,’ she continued to say, ’but there is no doubt.  There are the damning proofs.’  There are certain words usually confined to the vocabularies of men, which women such as Lady Aylmer delight to use on special occasions, when strong circumstances demand strong language.  As she said this she put her hand below the table, pressing it apparently against her own august person; but she was in truth indicating the position of a certain valuable correspondence, which was locked up in the drawer of her writing-table.

’You can write if you like it, of course; but I think you ought to wait a few more days.’

’Very well, Frederic; then I will wait.  I will wait till Sunday.  I do not wish to take any step of which you do not approve.  If you have not heard by Sunday morning, then I will write to her on Monday.’

On the Saturday afternoon life was becoming inexpressibly disagreeable to Captain Aylmer, and he began to meditate an escape from the Park.  In spite of the agreement between him and his mother, which he understood to signify that nothing more was to be said as to Clara’s wickedness, at any rate till Sunday after post-hour, Lady Aylmer had twice attacked him on the Saturday, and had expressed her opinion that affairs were in a very frightful position.  Belinda went about the house in melancholy guise, with her eyes rarely lifted off the ground, as though she were prophetically weeping the utter ruin of her brother’s respectability.  And even Sir Anthony had raised his eyes and shaken his head, when, on opening the post-bag at the breakfast-table an operation which was always performed by Lady Aylmer in person her ladyship had exclaimed, ‘again no letter!’ Then Captain Aylmer thought that he would fly, and resolved that, in the event of such flight, he would give special orders as to the re-direction of his own letters from the post-office at Whitby.

That evening, after dinner, as soon as his mother and sister had left the room, he began the subject with his father.  ’I think I shall go up to town on Monday, sir,’ said he.

‘So soon as that.  I thought you were to stop till the 9th.’

’There are things I must see to in London, and I believe I had better go at once.’

‘Your mother will be greatly disappointed.’