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herself beside her。 Clara's reserved and refined nature shrank somewhat
from the boisterous frankness and strange manners of the widow； and yet
her feminine instinct told her that beneath all her peculiarities there lay
much that was good and noble。 She smiled up at her； therefore； and
nodded a greeting。
〃Why aren't you playing； then？ Don't； for goodness' sake； begin to be
languid and young ladyish！ When you give up active sports you give up
youth。〃
〃I have played a set； Mrs。 Westmacott。〃
〃That's right； my dear。〃 She sat down beside her； and tapped her upon
the arm with her tennis racket。 〃I like you； my dear； and I am going to
call you Clara。 You are not as aggressive as I should wish； Clara； but still
I like you very much。 Self…sacrifice is all very well； you know； but we
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have had rather too much of it on our side； and should like to see a little on
the other。 What do you think of my nephew Charles？〃
The question was so sudden and unexpected that Clara gave quite a
jump in her chair。 〃III hardly ever have thought of your nephew
Charles。〃
〃No？ Oh； you must think him well over； for I want to speak to you
about him。〃
〃To me？ But why？〃
〃It seemed to me most delicate。 You see； Clara； the matter stands in
this way。 It is quite possible that I may soon find myself in a completely
new sphere of life； which will involve fresh duties and make it impossible
for me to keep up a household which Charles can share。〃
Clara stared。 Did this mean that she was about to marry again？
What else could it point to？
〃Therefore Charles must have a household of his own。 That is
obvious。 Now； I don't approve of bachelor establishments。 Do you？〃
〃Really； Mrs。 Westmacott； I have never thought of the matter。〃
〃Oh； you little sly puss！ Was there ever a girl who never thought of
the matter？ I think that a young man of six…and…twenty ought to be
married。〃
Clara felt very uncomfortable。 The awful thought had come upon her
that this ambassadress had come to her as a proxy with a proposal of
marriage。 But how could that be？ She had not spoken more than three
or four times with her nephew； and knew nothing more of him than he had
told her on the evening before。 It was impossible； then。 And yet what
could his aunt mean by this discussion of his private affairs？
〃Do you not think yourself；〃 she persisted； 〃that a young man of six…
and…twenty is better married？〃
〃I should think that he is old enough to decide for himself。〃
〃Yes； yes。 He has done so。 But Charles is just a little shy； just a
little slow in expressing himself。 I thought that I would pave the way for
him。 Two women can arrange these things so much better。 Men
sometimes have a difficulty in making themselves clear。〃
〃I really hardly follow you； Mrs。 Westmacott；〃 cried Clara in despair。
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〃He has no profession。 But he has nice tastes。 He reads Browning
every night。 And he is most amazingly strong。 When he was younger
we used to put on the gloves together； but I cannot persuade him to now；
for he says he cannot play light enough。 I should allow him five hundred；
which should be enough at first。〃
〃My dear Mrs。 Westmacott；〃 cried Clara； 〃I assure you that I have not
the least idea what it is that you are talking of。〃
〃Do you think your sister Ida would have my nephew Charles？〃
Her sister Ida？ Quite a little thrill of relief and of pleasure ran
through her at the thought。 Ida and Charles Westmacott。 She had never
thought of it。 And yet they had been a good deal together。 They had
played tennis。 They had shared the tandem tricycle。 Again came the
thrill of joy； and close at its heels the cold questionings of conscience。
Why this joy？ What was the real source of it？ Was it that deep down；
somewhere pushed back in the black recesses of the soul； there was the
thought lurking that if Charles prospered in his wooing then Harold
Denver would still be free？ How mean； how unmaidenly； how unsisterly
the thought！ She crushed it down and thrust it aside； but still it would
push up its wicked little head。 She crimsoned with shame at her own
baseness； as she turned once more to her companion。
〃I really do not know；〃 she said。
〃She is not engaged？〃
〃Not that I know of。〃
〃You speak hesitatingly。〃
〃Because I am not sure。 But he may ask。 She cannot but be
flattered。〃
〃Quite so。 I tell him that it is the most practical compliment which a
man can pay to a woman。 He is a little shy； but when he sets himself to
do it he will do it。 He is very much in love with her； I assure you。
These little lively people always do attract the slow and heavy ones； which
is nature's device for the neutralizing of bores。 But they are all going in。
I think if you will allow me that I will just take the opportunity to tell him
that； as far as you know； there is no positive obstacle in the way。〃
〃As far as I know； 〃Clara repeated； as the widow moved away to
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where the players were grouped round the net； or sauntering slowly
towards the house。 She rose to follow her； but her head was in a whirl
with new thoughts； and she sat down again。 Which would be best for Ida；
Harold or Charles？ She thought it over with as much solicitude as a
mother who plans for her only child。 Harold had seemed to her to be in
many ways the noblest and the best young man whom she had known。 If
ever she was to love a man it would be such a man as that。 But she must
not think of herself。 She had reason to believe that both these men loved
her sister。 Which would be the best for her？ But perhaps the matter
was