For some moments for a space which seemed long to both of them Clara kept her seat in silence.  She hardly dared to speak; and though she longed to show her sympathy, she knew not what to say.  At last she too rose and followed the other to the window.  She uttered no words, however, but gently putting her arm around Mrs Askerton’s waist, stood there close to her, looking out upon the cold wintry flower-beds not venturing to turn her eyes upon her companion.  The motion of her arm was at first very gentle, but after a while she pressed it closer, and thus by degrees drew her friend to her with an eager, warm, and enduring pressure.  Mrs Askerton made some little effort towards repelling her, some faint motion of resistance; but as the embrace became warmer the poor woman yielded herself to it, and allowed her face to fall upon Clara’s shoulder.  So they stood, speaking no word, making no attempt to rid themselves of the tears which were blinding their eyes, but gazing out through the moisture on the bleak wintry scene before them.  Clara’s mind was the more active at the moment, for she was resolving that in this episode of her life she would accept no lesson whatever from Lady Aylmer’s teaching no, nor any lesson whatever from the teaching of any Aylmer in existence.  And as for the world’s rules, she would fit herself to them as best she could; but no such fitting should drive her to the unwomanly cruelty of deserting this woman whom she had known and loved and whom she now loved with a fervour which she had never before felt towards her.

‘You have heard it all now,’ said Mrs Askerton at last.

‘And is it not better so?’

‘Ah I do not know.  How should I know?’

‘Do you not know?’ And as she spoke, Clara pressed her arm still closer.  ‘Do you not know yet?’ Then, turning herself half round, she clasped the other woman full in her arms, and kissed her forehead and her lips.

‘Do you not know yet?’

‘But you will go away, and people will tell you that you are wrong.’

‘What people?’ said Clara, thinking as she spoke of the whole family at Aylmer Park.

‘Your husband will tell you so.’

’I have no husband as yet to order me what to think or what not to think.’

‘No not quite as yet.  But you will tell him all this.’

’He knows it.  It was he who told me.

‘What!  Captain Aylmer?’

‘Yes; Captain Aylmer.’

‘And what did he say?’

’Never mind.  Captain Aylmer is not my husband not as yet.  If he takes me, he must take me as I am, not as he might possibly have wished me to be.  Lady Aylmer’

‘And does Lady Aylmer know it?’

‘Yes.  Lady Aylmer is one of those hard, severe women who never forgive.’

’Ah, I see it all now.  I understand it all.  Clara, you must forget me, and come here no more.  You shall not be ruined because you are generous.’

’Ruined!  If Lady Aylmer’s displeasure can ruin me, I must put up with ruin.  I will not accept her for my guide.  I am too old, and have had my own way too long.  Do not let that thought trouble you.  In this matter I shall judge for myself.  I have judged for myself already.’