"Then I beg his pardon. But not the less has he been busy making inquiries."
"But why should you say that there is a powder magazine, or a sword hanging over your head?"
"Ah, why?"
Here was the subject ready opened to her hand, and yet Clara did not know how to go on with it. It seemed to her now that it would have been easier for her to commence it, if Mrs. Askerton had made no commencement herself. As it was, she knew not how to introduce the subject of Captain Aylmer's letter, and was almost inclined to wait, thinking that Mrs. Askerton might tell her own story without any such introduction. But nothing of the kind was forthcoming. Mrs. Askerton began to talk of the frost, and then went on to abuse Ireland, complaining of the hardship her husband endured in being forced to go thither in winter to look after his tenants.
"What did you mean," said Clara, at last, "by the sword hanging over your head?"
"I think I told you what I meant pretty plainly. If you did not understand me I cannot tell you more plainly."
"It is odd that you should say so much, and not wish to say more."
"Ah!—you are making your inquiries now."
"In my place would not you do so too? How can I help it when you talked of a sword? Of course you make me ask what the sword is."
"And am I bound to satisfy your curiosity?"