’But that does not answer my question.  Could you bring yourself to live here even if it were your own?’

‘Why not?’

’Because it is so deadly dull because it has no attraction whatever because of all lives it is the one you would like the least.  No one should live in a provincial town but they who make their money by doing so.’

’And what are the wives and daughters of such people to do and especially their widows?  I have no doubt I could live here very happily if I had anybody near me that I liked.  I should not wish to have to depend altogether on Mr Possitt for society.’

‘And you would find him about the best.’

’Mr Possitt has been with me twice whilst you were away, and he, too, asked what you meant to do about the house.’

‘And what did you say?’

’What could I say?  Of course I said I did not know.  I suppose he was meditating whether you would live here and ask him to dinner on Sundays!’

‘Mr Possitt is a very good sort of man,’ said the captain, gravely for Captain Aylmer, in the carrying out of his principles, always spoke seriously of everything connected with the Church in Perivale.

‘And quite worthy to be asked to dinner on Sundays,’ said Clara.  ’But I did not give him any hope.  How could I?  Of course I knew that you would not live here, though I did not tell him so.’

’No; I don’t suppose I shall.  But I see very plainly that you think I ought to do so.’

’I’ve the old-fashioned idea as to a man’s living near to his own property; that is all.  No doubt it was good for other people in Perivale, besides Mr Possitt, that my dear aunt lived here; and if the house is shut up, or let to some stranger, they will feel her loss the more.  But I don’t know that you are bound to sacrifice yourself to them.’

‘If I were to marry,’ said Captain Aylmer, very slowly and in a low voice, ‘of course I should have to think of my wife’s wishes.’

’But if your wife, when she accepted you, knew that you were living here, she would hardly take upon herself to demand that you should give up your residence.’

‘She might find it very dull.’

’She would make her own calculations as to that before she accepted you.’

’No doubt but I can’t fancy any woman taking a man who was tied by his leg to Perivale.  What do people do who live in Perivale?’

‘Earn their bread.’

‘Yes that’s just what I said.  But I shouldn’t earn mine here.’

‘I have the feeling I spoke of very strongly about papa’s place,’ said Clara, changing the conversation suddenly.  ’I very often think of the future fate of Belton Castle when papa shall have gone.  My cousin has got his house at Plaistow, and I don’t suppose he’d live there.’

‘And where will you go?’ he asked.

As soon as she had spoken, Clara regretted her own imprudence in having ventured to speak upon her own affairs.  She had been well pleased to hear him talk of his plans, and had been quite resolved not to talk of her own.  But now, by her own speech, she had sot him to make inquiries as to her future life.  She did not at first answer the question; but he repeated it.  ‘And where will you live yourself?’