Mrs.Winterfield was affectionate as well as good, and her niece's coldness, as the niece well knew, had hurt her sorely.

But still what could Clara have done or said?
She told herself that it was beyond her power to burst out into loud praises of Captain Aylmer; and of such nature was the gratitude which Mrs.Winterfield had desired.

She was not grateful to Captain Aylmer, and wanted nothing that was to come from his generosity.

And then her mind went away to that other portion of her aunt's discourse.

Could it be possible that this man was in truth attached to her, and was repelled simply by her own manner?
She was aware that she had fallen into a habit of fighting with him, of sparring against him with words about indifferent things, and calling his conduct in question in a manner half playful and half serious.
Could it be the truth that she was thus robbing herself of that which would be to her,--as to herself she had frankly declared,--the one treasure which she would desire?
Twice, as has been said before, words had seemed to tremble on his lips which might have settled the question for her for ever; and on both occasions, as she knew, she herself had helped to laugh off the precious word that had been coming.