'I hope I may not have to think of that for some time to come yet.'

'It is impossible to help thinking of such things.'

'I can assure you that I haven't thought about it; but I suppose I
shall endeavour to to I don't know what I shall endeavour to do.'

'Will you come and live at Perivale?'

'Why here more than anywhere else?

'In this house I mean.'

'That would suit me admirably would it not? I'm afraid Mr Possitt would
not find me a good neighbour. To tell the truth, I think that any lady
who lives here alone ought to be older than I am. The Penvalians would
not show to a young woman that sort of respect which they have always
felt for this house.'

'I didn't mean alone,' said Captain Aylmer.

Then Clara got up and made some excuse for leaving him, and there was
nothing more said between them nothing, at least, of moment, on that
evening. She had become uneasy when he asked her whether she would like
to live in his house at Perivale. But afterwards, when he suggested
that she was to have some companion with her there, she felt herself
compelled to put an end to the conversation. And yet she knew that this
was always the way, both with him and with herself. He would say things
which would seem to promise that in another minute he would be at her
feet, and then he would go no farther. And she, when she heard those