"Very well;--and I feel sure that you are mistaken. We will leave it so, and go to this matter of importance." But Clara felt it to be very difficult to tell her tidings after such a conversation as that which had just occurred. When she had entered the room her mind had been tuned to the subject, and she could have found fitting words without much difficulty to herself; but now her thoughts had been scattered and her feelings hurt, and she did not know how to bring herself back to the subject of her engagement. She paused, therefore, and sat with a doubtful, hesitating look, meditating some mode of escape. "I am all ears," said Mrs. Askerton; and Clara thought that she discovered something of ridicule or of sarcasm in the tone of her friend's voice. "I believe I'll put it off till another day," she said. "Why so? You don't think that anything really important to you will not be important to me also?" "I'm sure of that, but somehow--" "You mean to say that I have ruffled you?" "Well;--perhaps; a little." "Then be unruffled again, like my own dear, honest Clara. I have been ruffled too, but I'll be as tranquil now as a drawing-room cat." Then Mrs. Askerton got up from her chair, and seated herself by Clara's side on the sofa. "Come; you can't go till you've told me; and if you hesitate, I shall think that you mean to quarrel with me." "I'll come to you to-morrow." "No, no; you shall tell me to-day. All to-morrow you'll be preparing for your cousin." "What nonsense!" "Or else you'll come prepared to vindicate him, and then we shan't get on any further. Tell me what it is to-day. You can't leave me in curiosity after what you have said." "You've heard of Captain Aylmer, I think." "Of course I've heard of him." "But you've never seen him?" "You know I never have." "I told you that he was at Perivale when Mrs. Winterfield died." "And now he has proposed, and you are going to accept him? That will indeed be important. Is it so?--say. But don't I know it is so? Why don't you speak?" "If you know it, why need I speak?" "But it is so? Oh, Clara, I am so glad. I congratulate you with all my heart,--with all my heart. My dearest, dearest Clara! What a happy arrangement! What a success! It is just as it should be. Dear, good man! to come forward in that sensible way, and put an end to all the little family difficulties!" "I don't know so much about success. Who is it that is successful?" "You, to be sure." "Then by the same measurement he must be unsuccessful." "Don't be a fool, Clara." "Of course I have been successful if I've got a man that I can love as my husband." "Now, my dear, don't be a fool. Of course all that is between you and him, and I don't in the least doubt that it is all as it should be. If Captain Aylmer had been the elder brother instead of the younger, and had all the Aylmer estates instead of the Perivale property, I know you would not accept him if you did not like him." "I hope not."