There was another pause, during which Clare was thinking.
“Am I the first to whom thou hast opened thine heart hereon, dear Clare?”
“Well, I did let fall a word or twain at home,” said Clare smiling; “but I found no like feeling in response thereto.”
“Not even from Margaret?”
“Meg thought there was work enough at home,” replied Clare laughing, “and bade me go look in the mending-chest and see how much lacked doing.”
“Nor Mistress Rachel?”
“Nay, Aunt Rachel said I might well be thankful that I was safe guarded at home, and had not need to go about this wicked world.”
“Well, there is reason in that. It is a wicked world.”
“Yet, surely, we need try to make it better, Mistress Tremayne: and—any woman could stitch and cut as well as I.”
Clare spoke earnestly. Mrs Tremayne considered a little before she answered.