This was all new to her.  Hitherto, though she had never desired that he should assume such attitude as this, she had constantly been unconsciously wounded by his coldness by his cold propriety and unbending self-possession.  His cold propriety and unbending self-possession were gone now, and he was there at her feet.  Such an argument, used at Aylmer Park, would have conquered her would have won her at once, in spite of herself; but now she was minded to be resolute.  She had sworn to herself that she would not peril herself, or him, by joining herself to a man with whom she had so little sympathy, and who apparently had none with her.  But in what way was she to answer such a prayer as that which was now made to her?  The man who addressed her was entitled to use all the warmth of an accepted lover.  He only asked for that which had already been given to him.

’Captain Aylmer ’ she began.

’Why is it to be Captain Aylmer?  What have I done that you should use me in this way?  It was not I who who made you unhappy at Aylmer Park.’

’I will not go back to that.  It is of no use.  Pray get up.  It shocks me to see you in this way.’

’Tell me, then, that it is once more all right between us.  Say that, and I shall be happier than I ever was before yes, than I ever was before.  I know how much I love you now, how sore it would be to lose you.  I have been wrong.  I had not thought enough of that, but I will think of it now.’

She found that the task before her was very difficult so difficult that she almost broke down in performing it.  It would have been so easy and, for the moment, so pleasant to have yielded.  He had his hand upon her arm, having attempted to take her hand.  In preventing that she had succeeded, but she could not altogether make herself free from him without rising.  For a moment she had paused paused as though she were about to yield.  For a moment, as he looked into her eyes, he had thought that he would again be victorious.  Perhaps there was something in his glance, some too visible return of triumph to his eyes, which warned her of her danger.  ‘No!’ she said, getting up and walking away from him; ‘no!’

‘And what does “no” mean, Clara?’ Then he also rose, and stood leaning on the table.  ‘Does it mean that you will be forsworn?’

’It means this that I will not come between you and your mother; that I will not be taken into a family in which I am scorned; that I will not go to Aylmer Park myself or be the means of preventing you from going there.’

‘There need be no question of Aylmer Park.’

‘There shall be none!’

‘But, so much being allowed, you will be my wife?’

’No, Captain Aylmer no.  I cannot be your wife.  Do not press it further; you must know that on such a subject I would think much before I answered you.  I have thought much, and I know that I am right.’

‘And your promised word is to go for nothing?’