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each otherto the last year of my father's life。 Did I ever tell you that my
father moved southward； for the sake of his health； to a house in Kent that
was lent to him by a friend？〃
〃No； my dear； I don't remember ever hearing of the house in Kent。 Tell
me about it。〃
〃There is nothing to tell； except this： the new house was near a fine
country…seat standing in its own park。 The owner of the place was a
gentleman named Wardour。 He； too； was one of my father's Kentish
friends。 He had an only son。〃
She paused； and played nervously with her fan。 Mrs。 Crayford looked
at her attentively。 Clara's eyes remained fixed on her fanClara said no
more。 〃What was the son's name？〃 asked Mrs。 Crayford； quietly。
〃Richard。〃
〃Am I right； Clara； in suspecting that Mr。 Richard Wardour admired
you？〃
The question produced its intended effect。 The question helped Clara
to go on。
〃I hardly knew at first；〃 she said； 〃whether he admired me or not。 He
was very strange in his waysheadstrong； terribly headstrong and
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passionate； but generous and affectionate in spite of his faults of temper。
Can you understand such a character？〃
〃Such characters exist by thousands。 I have my faults of temper。 I
begin to like Richard already。 Go on。〃
〃The days went by； Lucy； and the weeks went by。 We were thrown
very much together。 I began； little by little； to have some suspicion of the
truth。〃
〃And Richard helped to confirm your suspicions； of course？
〃No。 He was notunhappily for mehe was not that sort of man。 He
never spoke of the feeling with which he regarded me。 It was I who saw it。
I couldn't help seeing it。 I did all I could to show that I was willing to be a
sister to him； and that I could never be anything else。 He did not
understand me； or he would not； I can't say which。〃
〃'Would not；' is the most likely； my dear。 Go on。〃
〃It might have been as you say。 There was a strange； rough bashfulness
about him。 He confused and puzzled me。 He never spoke out。 He seemed
to treat me as if our future lives had been provided for while we were
children。 What could I do； Lucy？〃
〃Do？ You could have asked your father to end the difficulty for you。〃
〃Impossible！ You forget what I have just told you。 My father was
suffering at that time under the illness which afterward caused his death。
He was quite unfit to interfere。〃
〃Was there no one else who could help you？〃
〃No one。〃
〃No lady in whom you could confide？〃
〃I had acquaintances among the ladies in the neighborhood。 I had no
friends。〃
〃What did you do； then？〃
〃Nothing。 I hesitated； I put off coming to an explanation with him；
unfortunately； until it was too late。〃
〃What do you mean by too late？〃
〃You shall hear。 I ought to have told you that Richard Wardour is in the
navy〃
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〃Indeed！ I am more interested in him than ever。 Well？〃
〃One spring day Richard came to our house to take leave of us before
he joined his ship。 I thought he was gone； and I went into the next room。 It
was my own sitting…room； and it opened on to the garden。〃
〃Yes？〃
〃Richard must have been watching me。 He suddenly appeared in the
garden。 Without waiting for me to invite him； he walked into the room。 I
was a little startled as well as surprised； but I managed to hide it。 I said；
'What is it； Mr。 Wardour？' He stepped close up to me； he said； in his quick；
rough way： 'Clara！ I am going to the African coast。 If I live； I shall come
back promoted； and we both know what will happen then。' He kissed me。 I
was half frightened； half angry。 Before I could compose myself to say a
word； he was out in the garden againhe was gone！ I ought to have
spoken； I know。 It was not honorable； not kind toward him。 You can't
reproach me for my want of courage and frankness more bitterly than I
reproach myself！〃
〃My dear child； I don't reproach you。 I only think you might have
written to him。〃
〃I did write。〃
〃Plainly？〃
〃Yes。 I told him in so many words that he was deceiving himself； and
that I could never marry him。〃
〃Plain enough； in all conscience！ Having said that； surely you are not
to blame。 What are you fretting about now？〃
〃Suppose my letter has never reached him？〃
〃Why should you suppose anything of the sort？〃
〃What I wrote required an answer； Lucy_asked_ for an answer。 The
answer has never come。 What is the plain conclusion？ My letter has never
reached him。 And the _Atalanta_ is expected back！ Richard Wardour is
returning to EnglandRichard Wardour will claim me as his wife！ You
wondered just now if I really meant what I said。 Do you doubt it still？〃
Mrs。 Crayford leaned back absently in her chair。 For the first time
since the conversation had begun； she let a question pass without making a
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reply。 The truth is； Mrs。 Crayford was thinking。
She saw Clara's position plainly； she understood the disturbing effect
of it on the mind of a young girl。 Still； making all allowances； she felt
quite at a loss； so far； to account for Clara's excessive agitation。 Her quick
observing faculty had just detected that Clara's face showed no signs of
relief； now that she had unburdened herself of her secret。 There was
something clearly under the surface heresomething of importance that
still remained to be discovered。 A shrewd doubt crossed Mrs。 Crayford's
mind； and inspired the next words which she addressed to her young
friend。
〃My dear；〃 she said abruptly； 〃have you told me all？〃
Clara started as if the question terrified her。 Feeling sure that she now
had the clew in her hand； Mrs。 Crayford deliberately repeated her question；
in another form of words。 Instead of answering； Clara suddenly looked up。
At the same moment a faint flush of color appeared in her face for the first
time。
Looking up instinctively on her side； Mrs。 Crayford became aware of
the presence； in the conservatory； of a young gentleman who was claiming
Clara as his partner in the coming waltz。 Mrs。 Crayford fell into thinking
once more。 Had this young gentleman （she asked herself） anything to do
with the untold end of the story？ Was this the true secret of Clara
Burnham's terror at the impending return of Richard Wardour？ Mrs。
Crayford decided on putting her doubts to the test。
〃A friend of yours； my dear？〃 she asked； innocently。 〃Suppose you
introduce us to each other。〃
Clara confusedly introduced the young gentleman。
〃Mr。 Francis Aldersley； Lucy。 Mr。 Aldersley belongs to the Arctic
expedition。〃
〃Attached to the expedition？〃 Mrs。 Crayford repeated。 〃I am attached
to the expedition tooin my way。 I had better introduce myself； Mr。
Aldersley； as Clara seems to have forgotten to do it for me。 I am Mrs。
Crayford。 My husband is Lieutenant Crayford； of the _Wanderer_。 Do you
belong to that ship？〃
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〃I have not the honor； Mrs。 Crayford。 I belong to the _Sea…mew_。〃
Mrs。 Crayford's superb eyes looked shrewdly backward and forward
between Clara and Francis Aldersley； and saw the untold sequel to Clara's
story。 The young officer was a bright； handsome； gentleman…like lad。 Just
the person to seriously complicate the difficulty with Richard Wardour！
There was no time for making any further inquiries。 The band had begun
the prelude to the waltz； and Francis Aldersley was waiting for his partner。
With a word of apology to the young man； Mrs。 Crayford drew Clara aside
for a moment； and spoke to her in a whisper。
〃One word； my dear； before you return to the ball…room。 It may sound
conceited； aft