At last the gentleman did come, and was shown up with all the ceremony of which Mrs Bunce was capable.  ‘Here he be, mum.’  Then Mrs Bunce paused a moment before she retreated, anxious to learn whether the new corner was a friend or a foe.  She concluded from the captain’s manner that he was a very dear friend, and then she departed.

‘I hope you are not surprised at my coming,’ said Captain Aylmer, still holding Clara by the hand.

‘A little surprised,’ she said, smiling.

‘But not annoyed?’

‘No not annoyed.’

’As soon as you had left Aylmer Park I felt that it was the right thing to do the only thing to do as I told my mother.’

‘I hope you have not come in opposition to her wishes,’ said Clara, unable to control a slight tone of banter as she spoke.

’In this matter I found myself compelled to act in accordance with my own judgment,’ said he, untouched by her sarcasm.

’Then I suppose that Lady Aylmer is is vexed with you for coming here.  I shall be so sorry for that so very sorry, as no good can come of it.’

’Well I am not so sure of that.  My mother is a most excellent woman, one for whose opinions on all matters I have the highest possible value a value so high, that that that’

’That you never ought to act in opposition to it.  That is what you really mean, Captain Aylmer; and upon my word I think that you are right.’

’No, Clara; that is not what I mean not exactly that.  Indeed, just at present I mean the reverse of that.  There are some things on which a man must act on his own judgment, irrespectively of the opinions of any one else.’

‘Not of a mother, Captain Aylmer?’

’Yes of a mother.  That is to say, a man must do so.  With a lady of course it is different.  I was very, very sorry that there should have been any unpleasantness at Aylmer Park.’

‘It was not pleasant to me, certainly.’

‘Nor to any of us, Clara.’

‘At any rate, it need not be repeated.’

‘I hope not.’

’No it certainly need not be repeated.  I know now that I was wrong to go to Aylmer Park.  I felt sure beforehand that there were many things as to which I could not possibly agree with Lady Aylmer, and I ought not to have gone.’

‘I don’t see that at all, Clara.’

‘I do see it now.’

’I can’t understand you.  What things?  Why should you be determined to disagree with my mother?  Surely you ought at any rate to endeavour to think as she thinks.’

‘I cannot do that, Captain Aylmer.’

’I am sorry to hear you speak in this way.  I have come here all the way from Yorkshire to try to put things straight between us; but you receive me as though you would remember nothing but that unpleasant quarrel.’