Wilmay and Other Stories of Women/The History of Clare Tollison

THE HISTORY OF CLARE TOLLISON

Chapter I.Clare made up her mind that she would go. Her clear, precise mind reviewed the points of the situation at once. She would never have taken advantage of their relationship to have approached the old man in any way, but he had chosen to recognise the relationship, had sought her out, had invited her, and there was no sacrifice of independence. The question of expense, of necessity a first consideration to Clare, settled itself satisfactorily. She would require two new dresses, and she would spend ten pounds on them; the railway fare, third class, would be fifty shillings, and as much more would be required for gratuities to servants. Against this serious expenditure of fifteen pounds she set off a month's free maintenance, a few
possibilities of advantage to herself, and a visit to a man who, from what she had heard, would interest her very much. For the last six months Glare had made three pounds a week, and lived on rather less than half that. Yes, she decided that she was justified in the expenditure.
The invitation came on a large square sheet of hand-made paper, folded and sealed with care; a few adhering grams showed that the writing h

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