The Perivalians would not show to a young woman that sort of respect which they have always felt for this house." "I didn't mean alone," said Captain Aylmer.
Then Clara got up and made some excuse for leaving him, and there was nothing more said between them,--nothing, at least, of moment, on that evening.

She had become uneasy when he asked her whether she would like to live in his house at Perivale.

But afterwards, when he suggested that she was to have some companion with her there, she felt herself compelled to put an end to the conversation.

And yet she knew that this was always the way, both with him and with herself.

He would say things which would seem to promise that in another minute he would be at her feet, and then he would go no further.