
was true, had not passed through other hands in coming to him, as Vernon would
know it to be Clara's case: time only had worn her: but the comfort of the
reflection was annoyed by the physical contrast of the two. Hence an unusual
melancholy in his tone, that Mrs. Mountstuart thought touching. It had the
scenic effect on her which greatly contributes to delude the wits. She talked of
him to Clara as being a man who had revealed an unsuspected depth.
    Vernon took the communication curiously. He seemed readier to be in love
with his benevolent relative than with the lady. He was confused, undisguisedly
moved, said the plan was impossible, out of the question, but thanked Willoughby
for the best of intentions, thanked him warmly. After saying that the plan was
impossible, the comical fellow allowed himself to be pushed forth on the lawn to
see how Miss Middleton might have come out of her interview with Mrs.
Mountstuart. Willoughby observed Mrs. Mountstuart meet him, usher him to the
place she had quitted among the shrubs, and return to the open turf-spaces. He
sprang to her.
    »She will listen,« Mrs. Mountstuart said: »she likes him, respects him,
thinks he is a very sincere friend, clever, a scholar, and a good mountaineer;
and thinks you mean very kindly. So much I have impressed on her, but I have not
done much for Mr. Whitford.«
    »She consents to listen,« said Willoughby, snatching at that as the
death-blow to his friend Horace.
    »She consents to listen, because you have arranged it so that if she
declined she would be rather a savage.«
    »You think it will have no result?«
    »None at all.«
    »Her listening will do.«
    »And you must be satisfied with it.«
    »We shall see.«
    »Anything for peace, she says: and I don't say that a gentleman with a
tongue would not have a chance. She wishes to please you.«
    »Old Vernon has no tongue for women, poor fellow! You will have us be spider
or fly, and if a man can't spin a web, all he can hope is not to be caught in
one. She knows his history too, and that won't be in his favour. How did she
look when you left them?«
    »Not so bright: like a bit of china that wants dusting. She looked a trifle
gauche, it struck me; more like a country
