Then Lady Aylmer had finished her argument, and throwing herself back into the carriage, seemed to intimate that she desired no reply.  She had believed and did believe that her guest was so intent upon marrying her son, that no struggle would be regarded as too great for the achievement of that object.  And such belief was natural on her part.  Mothers always so think of girls engaged to their sons, and so think especially when the girls are penniless and the sons are well-to-do in the world.  But such belief, though it is natural, is sometimes wrong and it was altogether wrong in this instance.  ‘Then,’ said Clara, speaking very plainly,’ nothing can be done.’

‘Very well, my dear.’

After that there was not a word said between them till the carriage was once more within the park.  Then Lady Aylmer spoke again.  ’I presume you see, my dear, that under these circumstances any thought of marriage between you and my son must be quite out of the question at any rate for a great many years.’

‘I will speak to Captain Aylmer about it, Lady Aylmer.’

’Very well, my dear.  So do.  Of course he is his own master.  But he is my son as well, and I cannot see him sacrificed without an effort to save him.’

When Clara came down to dinner on that day she was again Miss Amedroz, and she could perceive from Belinda’s manner quite as plainly as from that of her ladyship that she was to have no more tit-bits of hashed chicken specially picked out for her by Lady Aylmer’s own fork., That evening and the two next days passed, just as had passed the two first days, and everything was dull, cold, and uncomfortable.  Twice she had walked out with Frederic, and on each occasion had thought that he would refer to what his mother had said; but he did not venture to touch upon the subject.  Clara more than once thought that she would do so herself; but when the moment came she found that it was impossible.  She could not bring herself to say anything that should have had the appearance of a desire on her part to hurry on a marriage.  She could not say to him, ’If you are too poor to be married or even if you mean to put forward that pretence say so at once.’  He still called her Clara, and still asked her to walk with him, and still talked, when they were alone together, in a distant cold way, of the events of their future combined life.  Would they live at Perivale?  Would it be necessary to refurnish the house?  Should he keep any of the land on his own hands?  These are all interesting subjects of discussion between an engaged man and the girl to whom he is engaged; but the man, if he wish to make them thoroughly pleasant to the lady, should throw something of the urgency of a determined and immediate purpose into the discussion.  Something should be said as to the actual destination of the rooms.  A day should be fixed for choosing the furnishing.  Or the gentleman should declare that he will at once buy the cows for the farm.  But with Frederic Aylmer all discussions seemed to point to some cold, distant future, to which Clara might look forward as she did to the joys of heaven.  Will Belton would have bought the ring long since, and bespoken the priest, and arranged every detail of the honeymoon, tour and very probably would have stood looking into a cradle shop with longing eyes.