’I say that she is particular and so she is.  And as my respect for her opinion is equal to my affection for her person, I hope that you will make a great effort to gain her esteem.’

’I never make any efforts of that kind.  If esteem doesn’t come without efforts it isn’t worth having.’

’There I disagree with you altogether but I especially disagree with you as you are speaking about my mother, and about a lady who is to become your own mother-in-law.  I trust that you will make such efforts, and that you will make them successfully.  Lady Aylmer is not a woman who will give you her heart at once, simply because you have become her son’s wife.  She will judge you by your own qualities and will not scruple to condemn you should she see cause.’

Then there was a longer silence, and Clara’s heart was almost in rebellion even on this, the first day of her engagement.  But she quelled her high spirit, and said no further word about Lady Aylmer.  Nor did she speak again till she had enabled herself to smile as she spoke.

‘Well, Fred,’ she said, putting her hand upon his arm, ’I’ll do my best, and woman can do no more.  And now I’ll say good-night, for I must pack for tomorrow’s journey before I go to bed.’  Then he kissed her with a cold, chilling kiss and she left him for the night.

CHAPTER XII

MISS AMEDROZ RETURNS HOME

Clara was to start by a train leaving Perivale at eight on the following morning, and therefore there was not much time for conversation before she went.  During the night she had endeavoured so to school herself as to banish from her breast all feelings of anger against her lover, and of regret as regarded herself.  Probably, as she told herself, she had made more of what he had said than he had intended that she should do; and then, was it not natural that he should think much of his mother, and feel anxious as to the way in which she might receive his wife.  As to that feeling of anger on her own part, she did get quit of it; but the regret was not to be so easily removed.  It was not only what Captain Aylmer had said about his mother that clung to her, doing much to quench her joy; but there had been a coldness in his tone to her throughout the evening which she recognized almost unconsciously, and which made her heart heavy in spite of the joy which she repeatedly told herself ought to be her own.  And she also felt though she was not clearly aware that she did so that his manner towards her had become less affectionate, less like that of a lover, since the honest tale she had told him of her own early love for him.  She should have been less honest, and more discreet; less bold, and more like in her words to the ordinary run of women.  She had known this as she was packing last night, and she told herself that it was so as she was dressing on this her last morning at Perivale.  That frankness