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left hand was on the cushion at her side。 He leaned forward and took it
gently in his own。 She did not try to draw it back from him。
〃May I have it；〃 said he； 〃for life？〃
〃Oh； do attend to your steering；〃 said she； smiling round at him； 〃and
don't say any more about this to…day。 Please don't！〃
〃When shall I know； then？〃
〃Oh； to…night； to…morrow； I don't know。 I must ask Clara。 Talk
about something else。〃
And they did talk about something else； but her left hand was still
enclosed in his； and he knew； without asking again； that all was well。
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CHAPTER VIII。
SHADOWS BEFORE。
Mrs。 Westmacott's great meeting for the enfranchisement of woman
had passed over； and it had been a triumphant success。 All the maids and
matrons of the southern suburbs had rallied at her summons； there was an
influential platform with Dr。 Balthazar Walker in the chair； and Admiral
Hay Denver among his more prominent supporters。 One benighted male
had come in from the outside darkness and had jeered from the further end
of the hall； but he had been called to order by the chair； petrified by
indignant glances from the unenfranchised around him； and finally
escorted to the door by Charles Westmacott。 Fiery resolutions were
passed； to be forwarded to a large number of leading statesmen； and the
meeting broke up with the conviction that a shrewd blow had been struck
for the cause of woman。
But there was one woman at least to whom the meeting and all that
was connected with it had brought anything but pleasure。 Clara Walker
watched with a heavy heart the friendship and close intimacy which had
sprung up between her father and the widow。 From week to week it had
increased until no day ever passed without their being together。 The
coming meeting had been the excuse for these continual interviews； but
now the meeting was over； and still the Doctor would refer every point
which rose to the judgment of his neighbor。 He would talk； too； to his
two daughters of her strength of character； her decisive mind； and of the
necessity of their cultivating her acquaintance and following her example；
until at last it had become his most common topic of conversation。
All this might have passed as merely the natural pleasure which an
elderly man might take in the society of an intelligent and handsome
woman； but there were other points which seemed to Clara to give it a
deeper meaning。 She could not forget that when Charles Westmacott had
spoken to her one night he had alluded to the possibility of his aunt
marrying again。 He must have known or noticed something before he
would speak upon such a subject。 And then again Mrs。 Westmacott had
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BEYOND THE CITY
herself said that she hoped to change her style of living shortly and take
over completely new duties。 What could that mean except that she
expected to marry？ And whom？ She seemed to see few friends outside
their own little circle。 She must have alluded to her father。 It was a
hateful thought； and yet it must be faced。
One evening the Doctor had been rather late at his neighbor's。 He
used to go into the Admiral's after dinner； but now he turned more
frequently in the other direction。 When he returned Clara was sitting
alone in the drawing…room reading a magazine。 She sprang up as he
entered； pushed forward his chair； and ran to fetch his slippers。
〃You are looking a little pale； dear；〃 he remarked。
〃Oh； no； papa； I am very well。〃
〃All well with Harold？〃
〃Yes。 His partner； Mr。 Pearson； is still away； and he is doing all the
work。〃
〃Well done。 He is sure to succeed。 Where is Ida？〃
〃In her room； I think。〃
〃She was with Charles Westmacott on the lawn not very long ago。
He seems very fond of her。 He is not very bright； but I think he will
make her a good husband。〃
〃I am sure of it； papa。 He is very manly and reliable。〃
〃Yes； I should think that he is not the sort of man who goes wrong。
There is nothing hidden about him。 As to his brightness； it really does
not matter； for his aunt； Mrs。 Westmacott； is very rich； much richer than
you would think from her style of living； and she has made him a
handsome provision。〃
〃I am glad of that。〃
〃It is between ourselves。 I am her trustee； and so I know something
of her arrangements。 And when are you going to marry； Clara？〃
〃Oh； papa； not for some time yet。 We have not thought of a date。
〃Well； really； I don't know that there is any reason for delay。 He has a
competence and it increases yearly。 As long as you are quite certain that
your mind is made up〃
〃Oh； papa！〃
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〃Well； then； I really do not know why there should be any delay。 And
Ida； too； must be married within the next few months。 Now； what I want
to know is what I am to do when my two little companions run away from
me。〃 He spoke lightly； but his eyes were grave as he looked
questioningly at his daughter。
〃Dear papa； you shall not be alone。 It will be years before Harold
and I think of marrying； and when we do you must come and live with us。〃
〃No； no； dear。 I know that you mean what you say； but I have seen
something of the world； and I know that such arrangements never answer。
There cannot be two masters in a house； and yet at my age my freedom is
very necessary to me。〃
〃But you would be completely free。〃
〃No； dear； you cannot be that if you are a guest in another man's house。
Can you suggest no other alternative？〃
〃That we remain with you。〃
〃No； no。 That is out of the question。 Mrs。 Westmacott herself says
that a woman's first duty is to marry。 Marriage； however； should be an
equal partnership； as she points out。 I should wish you both to marry； but
still I should like a suggestion from you； Clara； as to what I should do。〃
〃But there is no hurry； papa。 Let us wait。 I do not intend to marry
yet。〃
Doctor Walker looked disappointed。 〃Well； Clara； if you can suggest
nothing； I suppose that I must take the initiative myself；〃 said he。
〃Then what do you propose； papa？〃 She braced herself as one who
sees the blow which is about to fall。
He looked at her and hesitated。 〃How like your poor dear mother you
are； Clara！〃 he cried。 〃As I looked at you then it was as if she had come
back from the grave。〃 He stooped towards her and kissed her。 〃There；
run away to your sister； my dear； and do not trouble yourself about me。
Nothing is settled yet； but you will find that all will come right。〃
Clara went upstairs sad at heart； for she was sure now that what she
had feared was indeed about to come to pass； and that her father was going
to take Mrs。 Westmacott to be his wife。 In her pure and earnest mind her
mother's memory was enshrined as that of a saint； and the thought that any
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one should take her place seemed a terrible desecration。 Even worse；
however； did this marriage appear when looked at from the point of view
of her father's future。 The widow might fascinate him by her knowledge
of the world； her dash； her strength； her unconventionalityall these
qualities Clara was willing to allow herbut she was convinced that she
would be unendurable as a life companion。 She had come to an age
when habits are