educated, and it was the proper sort of thing for him to do. No doubt
he had some idea, seeing how things had now arranged themselves, that
he would be giving much more than he would get; and perhaps the manner
of his offer might be affected by that consideration; but not on that
account did he feel at all sure that he would be accepted. Clara
Amedroz was a proud girl perhaps too proud. Indeed, it was her fault.
If her pride now interfered with her future fortune in life, it should
be her fault, not his. He would do his duty to her and to his aunt he
would do it perseveringly and kindly; and then, if she refused him, the
fault would not be his.

Such, I think, was the state of Captain Aylmer's mind when he got up on
the Sunday morning, resolving that he would on that day make good his
promise. And it must be remembered, on his behalf, that he would have
prepared himself for his task with more animation if he had hitherto
received warmer encouragement. He had felt himself to be repulsed in
the little efforts which he had already made to please the lady, and
had no idea whatever as to the true state of her feelings. Had he known
what she knew, he would, I think, have been animated enough, and gone
to his task as happy and thriving a lover as any. But he was a man
somewhat diffident of himself, though sufficiently conscious of the
value of the worldly advantages which he possessed and he was, perhaps,
a little afraid of Clara, giving her credit for an intellect superior
to his own.



He had promised to walk with her on the Saturday after the reading of
the will, intending to take her out through the gardens down to a farm,
now belonging to himself, which lay at the back of the town, and which