That which referred to her aunt's money, together with the postscript in Captain Aylmer's letter on the same subject, would be of the least possible moment if she could bring herself to give a favourable answer to the other proposition.

But should she not be able to do this,--should she hesitate as to doing so at once,--then she must write to the lawyer in very strong terms, refusing altogether to have anything to do with the money.

And in such a case as this, not a word could she say to her father either on one subject or on the other.
But why should she not accept the offer made to her?
Captain Aylmer declared that he had determined to ask her to be his wife before he had made any promise to Mrs.Winterfield.If this were in truth so, then the very ground on which she had separated herself from him would be removed.

Why should she hesitate in acknowledging to herself that she loved the man and believed him to be true?
So she sat herself down and answered both the letters,--writing to the lawyer first.

To him she said that nothing need be done about the money or the interest till he should see or hear from Captain Aylmer again.
Then to Captain Aylmer she wrote very shortly, but very openly,--with the same ill-judged candour which her spoken words to him had displayed.