DAD WEEPS ON A TOMBSTONE The scene at Cremorne Point had suddenly reminded Clara that she was playing with fire.

In the beginning she had consented to these meetings to humour the parent of her best pupil, and gradually she had drifted into an intimacy with Jonah without the courage to end it.

To her fastidious taste his physical deformity and the flavour of Cardigan Street that still clung about his speech and manners put him out of court as a possible lover; but it had gratified her pride to discover that he was in love with her, and as he never expressed himself more plainly than by furtive glances and sudden inflections in his voice, she felt sure of her power to keep him at a distance.
These outings, indeed, had nearly fallen through, when Jonah, fumbling for words and afraid to say what was on his mind, had touched on a detail of his business.

To his surprise Clara caught fire like straw, fascinated at being shown the inner workings of the "Silver Shoe".

And from that time a curious attitude had grown between them.