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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； after the little you have told me； but I think I
understand your position _now_； better than you do yourself。 Do
you want to hear my opinion？〃
〃I am longing to hear it； Lucy！ I want your opinion； I want your
advice。〃
〃You shall have both in the plainest and fewest words。 First； my
opinion： You have no choice but to come to an explanation with
Mr。 Wardour as soon as he returns。 Second； my advice： If you wish
to make the explanation easy to both sides； take care that you
make it in the character of a free woman。〃
She laid a strong emphasis on the last three words； and looked
pointedly at Francis Aldersley as she pronounced them。 〃I won't
keep you from your partner any longer； Clara；〃 she resumed； and
led the way back to the ball…room。
Chapter 3。
The burden on Clara's mind weighs on it more heavily than ever；
after what Mrs。 Crayford has said to her。 She is too unhappy to
feel the inspiriting influence of the dance。 After a turn round
the room； she complains of fatigue。 Mr。 Francis Aldersley looks
at the conservatory （still as invitingly cool and empty as ever）；
leads her back to it； and places her on a seat among the shrubs。
She triesvery feeblyto dismiss him。
〃Don't let me keep you from dancing； Mr。 Aldersley。〃
He seats himself by her side； and feasts his eyes on the lovely
downcast face that dares not turn toward him。 He whispers to her：
〃Call me Frank。〃
She longs to call him Frankshe loves him with all her heart。
But Mrs。 Crayford's warning words are still in her mind。 She
never opens her lips。 Her lover moves a little closer； and asks
another favor。 Men are all alike on these occasions。 Silence
invariably encourages them to try again。
〃Clara！ have you forgotten what I said at the concert yesterday？
May I say it again？〃
〃No！〃
〃We sail to…morrow for the Arctic seas。 I may not return for
years。 Don't send me away without hope！ Think of the long； lonely
time in the dark North！ Make it a happy time for _me_。〃
Though he speaks with the fervor of a man； he is little more than
a lad： he is only twenty years old； and he is going to risk his
young life on the frozen deep！ Clara pities him as she never
pitied any human creature before。 He gently takes her hand。 She
tries to release it。
〃What！ not even that little favor on the last night？〃
Her faithful heart takes his part； in spite of her。 Her hand
remains in his； and feels its soft persuasive pressure。 She is a
lost woman。 It is only a question of time now！
〃Clara！ do you love me？〃
There is a pause。 She shrinks from looking at himshe trembles
with strange contradictory sensations of pleasure and pain。 His
arm steals round her； he repeats his question in a whisper； his
lips almost touch her little rosy ear as he says it again：
〃Do you love me？〃
She closes her eyes faintlyshe hears nothing but those
wordsfeels nothing but his arm round her forgets Mrs。
Crayford's warningforgets Richard Wardour himselfturns
suddenly； with a loving woman's desperate disregard of everything
but her lovenestles her head on his bosom； and answers him in
that way； at last！
He lifts the beautiful drooping headtheir lips meet in their
first kissthey are both in heaven： it is Clara who brings them
back to earth again with a startit is Clara who says； 〃Oh！ what
have I done？〃as usual； when it is too late。
Frank answers the question。
〃You have made me happy； my angel。 Now； when I come back； I come
back to make you my wife。〃
She shudders。 She remembers Richard Wardour again at those words。
〃Mind！〃 she says； 〃nobody is to know we are engaged till I permit
you to mention it。 Remember that！〃
He promises to remember it。 His arm tries to wind round her once
more。 No！ She is mistress of herself； she can positively dismiss
him nowafter she has let him kiss her！
〃Go！〃 she says。 〃I want to see Mrs。 Crayford。 Find her！ Say I am
here； waiting to speak to her。 Go at once； Frankfor my sake！〃
There is no alternative but to obey her。 His eyes drink a last
draught of her beauty。 He hurries away on his errandthe
happiest man in the room。 Five minutes since she was only his
partner in the dance。 He has spokenand she has pledged herself
to be his partner for life！
Chapter 4。
It was not easy to find Mrs。 Crayford in the crowd。 Searching
here； and searching there； Frank became conscious of a stranger；
who appeared to be looking for somebody； on his side。 He was a
dark； heavy…browed； strongly…built man； dressed in a shabby old
naval officer's uniform。 His mannerstrikingly resolute and
self…containedwas unmistakably the manner of a gentleman。 He
wound his way slowly through the crowd； stopping to look at every
lady whom he passed； and then looking away again with a frown。
Little by little he approached the conservatoryentered it；
after a moment's reflectiondetected the glimmer of a white
dress in the distance； through the shrubs and flowersadvanced
to get a nearer view of the ladyand burst into Clara's presence
with a cry of delight。
She sprang to her feet。 She stood before him speechless；
motionless； struck to stone。 All her life was in her eyesthe
eyes which told her she was looking at Richard Wardour。
He was the first to speak。
〃I am sorry I startled you； my darling。 I forgot everything but
the happiness of seeing you again。 We only reached our moorings
two hours since。 I was some time inquiring after you； and some
time getting my ticket when they told me you were at the ball。
Wish me joy； Clara！ I am promoted。 I have come back to make you
my wife。〃
A momentary change passed over the blank terror of her face。 Her
color rose faintly； her lips moved。 She abruptly put a question
to him。
〃Did you get my letter？〃
He started。 〃A letter from you？ I never received it。〃
The momentary animation died out of her face again。 She drew back
from him and dropped into a chair。 He advanced toward her；
astonished and alarmed。 She shrank in the chairshrank； as if
she was frightened of him。
〃Clara； you have not even shaken hands with me！ What does it
mean？〃
He paused； waiting and watching her。 She made no reply。 A flash
of the quick temper in him leaped up in his eyes。 He repeated his
last words in louder and sterner tones：
〃What does it mean？〃
She replied this time。 His tone had hurt herhis tone had roused
her sinking courage。
〃It means； Mr。 Wardour； that you have been mistaken from the
first。〃
〃How have I been mistaken？〃
〃You have been under a wrong impression； and you have given me no
opportunity of setting you right。〃
〃In what way have I been wrong？〃
〃You have been too hasty and too confident about yourself and
about me。 You have ent