‘But I do not wish there to be any quarrel.’

’But there is a quarrel, Captain Aylmer, and I must leave your father’s house.  I cannot stay here after what has taken place.  Your mother told me I cannot tell you what she told me, but she made against me just those accusations which she knew it would be the hardest for me to bear.’

‘I’m sure you have mistaken her.’

‘No; I have not mistaken her.’

‘And where do you propose to go?’

‘To Mrs Askerton.’

‘Oh, Clara!’

’I have written to Mrs Askerton to ask her to receive me for awhile.  Indeed, I may almost say that I had no other choice.’

‘If you go there, Clara, there will be an end to everything.’

‘And there must be an end of what you call everything, Captain Aylmer,’ said she, smiling.  ’It cannot be for your good to bring into your family a wife of whom your mother would think so badly as she thinks of me.’

There was a great deal said, and Captain Aylmer walked very often up and down the room, endeavouring to make some arrangement which might seem in some sort to appease his mother.  Would Clara only allow a telegram to be sent to Mrs Askerton, to explain that she had changed her mind?  But Clara would allow no such telegram to be sent, and on that evening she packed up all her things.  Captain Aylmer saw her again and again, sending Belinda backwards and forwards, and making different appointments up to midnight; but it was all to no purpose, and on the next morning she took her departure alone in the Aylmer Park carriage for the railway station.  Captain Aylmer had proposed to go with her; but she had so stoutly declined his company that he was obliged to abandon his intention.  She saw neither of the ladies on that morning, but Sir Anthony came out to say a word of farewell to her in the hall.  ‘I am very sorry for all this,’ said he.  ‘It is a pity,’ said Clara, ‘but it cannot be helped.  Good-bye, Sir Anthony.’  ’I hope we may meet again under pleasanter circumstances,’ said the baronet.  To this Clara made no reply, and was then handed into the carriage by Captain Aylmer.

‘I am so bewildered,’ said he, ’that I cannot now say anything definite, but I shall write to you, and probably follow you.’

‘Do not follow me, pray, Captain Aylmer,’ said she, Then she was driven to the station; and as she passed through the lodges of the park entrance she took what she intended to be a final farewell of Aylmer Park.

CHAPTER XXVII

ONCE MORE BACK TO BELTON

When the carriage was driven away, Sir Anthony and Captain Aylmer were left standing alone at the ball door of the house.  The servants had slunk off, and the father and son, looking at each other, felt that they also must slink away, or else have some words together on the subject of their guest’s departure.  The younger gentleman would have preferred that there should be no words, but Sir Anthony was curious to know something of what had passed in the house during the last few days.  ‘I’m afraid things are not going quite comfortable,’ he said.