his feet, and he did not scruple to tell himself that it was his and always might have been his as a matter of course.  Well, the apple had come of a good kind, and, though there might be specks upon it, though it might not be fit for any special glory of show or pride of place among the dessert service, still it should be garnered and used, and no doubt would be a very good apple for eating.  Having so concluded, Captain Aylmer returned to the house, washed his hands, changed his boots, and went down to the drawing-room just as dinner was ready.

She came up to him almost radiant with joy, and put her hand upon his arm.  ‘Martha did not know but what you were here,’ she said, ’and told them to put dinner on the table.’

‘I hope I have not kept you waiting.’

’Oh, dear, no.  And what if you did?  Ladies never care about things getting cold.  It is gentlemen only who have feelings in such matters as that.’

’I don’t know that there is much difference; but, however ’ Then they were in the dining-room, and as the servant remained there during dinner, there was nothing in their conversation worth repeating.  After dinner they still remained down-stairs, seating themselves on the two sides of the fire, Clara having fully resolved that she would not on such an evening as this leave Captain Aylmer to drink his glass of port wine by himself.

‘I suppose I may stay with you, mayn’t I?’ she said.

’Oh, dear, yes; I’m sure I’m very much obliged.  I’m not at all wedded to solitude.’  Then there was a slight pause.

‘That’s lucky,’ she said ’as you have made up your mind to be wedded in another sort of way.’  Her voice as she spoke was very low, but there was a gentle ring of restrained joyousness in it which ought to have gone at once to his heart and made him supremely blessed for the time.

‘Well yes,’ he answered.  ’We are in for it now, both of us are we not?  I hope you have no misgivings about it, Clara.’

’Who?  I?  I have misgivings!  No, indeed.  I have no misgivings, Frederic; no doubts, no scruples, no alloy in my happiness.  With me it is all as I would have it be.  Ah; you haven’t understood why it has been that I have seemed to be harsh to you when we have met.’

‘No, I have not,’ said he.  This was true; but it is true also that it would have been well that he should be kept in his ignorance.  She was minded, however, to tell him everything, and therefore she went on.

’I don’t know how to tell you; and yet, circumstanced as we are now, it seems that I ought to tell you everything.’