Here was the subject ready opened to her hand, and yet Clara did not know how to go on with it.  It seemed to her now that it would have been easier for her to commence it, if Mrs Askerton had made no commencement herself.  As it was, she knew not how to introduce the subject of Captain Aylmer’s letter, and was almost inclined to wait, thinking that Mrs Askerton might tell her own story without any such introduction.  But nothing of the kind was forthcoming.  Mrs Askerton began to talk of the frost, and then went on to abuse Ireland, complaining of the hardship her husband endured in being forced to go thither in winter to look after his tenants.

‘What did you mean’, said Clara, at last, ’by the sword hanging over your head?’

’I think I told you what I meant pretty plainly.  If you did not understand me I cannot tell you more plainly.’

‘It is odd that you should say so much, and not wish to say more.’

‘Ah! you are making your inquiries now.’

’In my place would not you do so too?  How can I help it when you talked of a sword?  Of course you make me ask what the sword is.’

‘And am I bound to satisfy your curiosity?’

’You told me, just before my cousin came here, that if I asked any question you would answer me.’

‘And I am to understand that you are asking such a question now?’

‘Yes if it will not offend you.’

’But what if it will offend me offend me greatly?  Who likes to be inquired into?’

‘But you courted such inquiry from me.’

’No, Clara, I did not do that.  I’ll tell you what I did.  I gave you to understand that if it was needful that you should hear about me and my antecedents certain matters as to which Mr Belton had been inquiring into in a manner that I thought to be most unjustifiable I would tell you that story.’

‘And do so without being angry with me for asking.’

’I meant, of course, that I would not make it a ground for quarrelling with you.  If I wished to tell you, I could do so without any inquiry.’

‘I have sometimes thought that you did wish to tell me.’

‘Sometimes I have almost.’

‘But you have no such wish now?’

’Can’t you understand?  It may well be that one so much alone as I am living here without a female friend, or even acquaintance, except yourself should often feel a longing for that comfort which full confidence between us would give me.’

‘Then why not’

’Stop a moment.  Can’t you understand that I may feel this, and yet entertain the greatest horror against inquiry?  We all like to tell our own sorrows, but who likes to be inquired into?  Many a woman burns to make a full confession, who would be as mute as death before a policeman.’

‘I am no policeman.’

‘But you are determined to ask a policeman’s questions?’