But at last Lady Aylmer managed to answer the question for herself, and did do it.  But this was not done on that Sunday afternoon, nor on the Monday, nor on the Tuesday.  The question was closely debated, and at last the anxious mother perceived that the giving of the invitation would be more safe than withholding it.  Captain Aylmer at last expressed his determination to go to Belton unless the invitation were given; and then, should he do that, there might be danger that he would never be again seen at Aylmer Park till he brought Clara Amedroz with him as his wife.  The position was one of great difficulty, but the interests at stake were so immense that something must be risked.  It might be that Clara would not come when invited, and in that case her obstinacy would be a great point gained.  And if she came !  Well; Lady Aylmer admitted to herself that the game would be difficult difficult and very troublesome; but yet it might be played, and perhaps won.  Lady Aylmer was a woman who had great confidence in herself.  Not so utterly had victory in such contests deserted her hands, that she need fear to break a lance with Miss Amedroz beneath her own roof, when the occasion was so pressing.

The invitation was therefore sent in a note written by herself, and was enclosed in a letter from her son.  After much consultation and many doubts on the subject, it was at last agreed that nothing further should now be urged about Mrs Askerton.  ‘She shall have her chance,’ said Lady Aylmer over and over again, repeating her son’s words.  ’She shall have her chance.’  Lady Aylmer, therefore, in her note, confined herself strictly to the giving of the invitation, and to a suggestion that, as Clara had now no settled home of her own, a temporary sojourn at Aylmer Park might be expedient.  And Captain Aylmer in his letter hardly said much more.  He knew, as he wrote the words, that they were cold and comfortless, and that he ought on such an occasion to have written words that should have been warm at any rate, even though they might not have contained comfort.  But, to have written with affection, he should have written at once, and he had postponed his letter from the Sunday till the Wednesday.  It had been absolutely necessary that that important question as to the invitation should be answered before he could write at all.

When all this was settled he went up to London; and there was an understanding between him and his mother that he should return to Aylmer Park with Clara, in the event of her acceptance of the invitation.

‘You won’t go down to Belton for her?’ said the mother.

‘No I do not think that will be necessary,’ said the son.

‘I should think not,’ said the mother.

CHAPTER XX

WILLIAM BELTON DOES NOT GO OUT HUNTING