"But, my dear Clara, has he not known you?"
"You will see that he will not come. And I tell you beforehand that he will be right to stay away. Indeed, I do not know how he could come;—and I do not want him here."
"I cannot understand you, Clara."
"I suppose not. I cannot very well understand myself."
"I should not be at all surprised if Lady Aylmer were to come herself."
"Oh, heavens! How little you can know of Lady Aylmer's position and character!"
"But if she is to be your mother-in-law?"
"And even if she were! The idea of Lady Aylmer coming away from Aylmer Park,—all the way from Yorkshire, to such a house as this! If they told me that the Queen was coming it would hardly disconcert me more. But, dear, there is no danger of that at least."
"I do not know what may have passed between you and him; but unless there has been some quarrel he will come. That is, he will do so if he is at all like any men whom I have known."
"He will not come."