He found Mr.Bartley alone, and why?
because, at sight of Walter, Mary, for the first time in her life, had flown upstairs to look at herself in the glass before facing the visitor, and to smooth her hair, and retouch a bow, etc., underrating, as usual, the power of beauty, and overrating nullities.

Bartley took this opportunity, and said to young Clifford: "I owe you an apology, and a most earnest one.

Can you ever forgive me ?" Walter changed color.

Even this humble allusion to so great an insult was wormwood to him.

He bit his lip, and said: "No man can do more than say he is sorry.