‘I do not know why you say so; I do not indeed.’

’You would disapprove of everything that I should do.  You do disapprove of what I am doing now.’

‘Disapprove of what?’

‘I am staying with my friend, Mrs Askerton.’

He felt that this was hard upon him.  As she had shown herself inclined to withdraw herself from him, he had become more resolute in his desire to follow her up, and to hold by his engagement.  He was not employed now in giving her another chance as he had proposed to himself to do but was using what eloquence he had to obtain another chance for himself.  Lady Aylmer had almost made him believe that Clara would be the suppliant, but now he was the suppliant himself.  In his anxiety to keep her he was willing even to pass over her terrible iniquity in regard to Mrs Askerton that great sin which had led to all these troubles.  He had once written to her about Mrs Askerton, using very strong language, and threatening her with his mother’s full displeasure.  At that time Mrs Askerton had simply been her friend.  There had been no question then of her taking refuge under that woman’s roof.  Now she had repelled Lady Aylmer’s counsels with scorn, was living as a guest in Mrs Askerton’s house; and yet he was willing to pass over the Askerton difficulty without a word.  He was willing not only to condone past offences, but to wink at existing iniquity!  But she she who was the sinner, would not permit of this.  She herself dragged up Mrs Askerton’s name, and seemed to glory in her own shame.

‘I had not intended,’ said he, ‘to speak of your friend.’

’I only mention her to show how impossible it is that we should ever agree upon some subjects as to which a husband and wife should always be of one mind.  I knew this from the moment in which I got your letter and only that I was a coward I should have said so then.’

‘And you mean to quarrel with me altogether?’

‘No why should we quarrel?’

‘Why, indeed?’ said he.

’But I wish it to be settled quite settled, as from the nature of things it must be, that there shall be no attempt at renewal of our engagement.  After what has passed, how could I enter your mother’s house?’

‘But you need not enter it.’  Now, in his emergency he was willing to give up anything everything.  He had been prepared to talk her over into a reconciliation with his mother, to admit that there had been faults on both sides, to come down from his high pedestal and discuss the matter as though Clara and his mother stood upon the same footing.  Having recognized the spirit of his lady-love, he had told himself that so much indignity as that must be endured.  But now, he had been carried so far beyond this, that he was willing, in the sudden vehemence of his love, to throw his mother over altogether, and to accede to any terms which Clara might propose to him.  ’Of course, I would wish you to be friends,’ he said, using now all the tones of a suppliant; ’but if you found that it could not be so’