CHAPTER II.
"I must say," observed Thurstane--"I beg your pardon for advising--but I think you had better accept your grandfather's invitation." He said it with a pang at his heart, for if this adorable girl went to her grandfather, the old fellow would be sure to love her and leave her his property, in which case there would be no chance for a proud and poor lieutenant.

He gave his advice under a grim sense that it was his duty to give it, because the following of it would be best for Miss Van Diemen.
"So I think," nodded Clara, fortified by this opinion to resist Aunt Maria, and the more fortified because it was the opinion of a man.
After a certain amount of discussion the elder lady was persuaded to loosen her mighty grip and give the destinies a little liberty.
"Well, it _may_ be best," she said, pursing her mouth as if she tasted the bitter of some half-suspected and disagreeable future.

"I don't know.

I won't undertake positively to decide.

But, if you do go," and here she became authentic and despotic--"if you do go, I shall go with you and see you safe there." "Oh! _will_ you ?" exclaimed Clara, all Spanish and all emotion in an instant.