The Belton Estate

s question was asked on the evening of that Monday on which

Will! Why

do so, when h

t is years ago. He would

has told me so. It sounds so cold to him

new that he might be sure of her. It would be impossible with her to keep such a secret from him, even for half a day. And yet, how odd it was! Here was a man who in three days had fallen in love with his daughter; and here was his daughter apparently quite as ready to be in love with the man. How could she, who was ordinarily circumspect,

so also. He is such a good fe

thing be more charming than this? Immediately after breakfast he was going over to Redicote, to see a builder in a small way who lived there, and whom he proposed to employ in putting up the shed for the cattle; but

go down there, and it will save you something in your walk to pick

entertain, and her clearer intellect saw possibilities which did not occur to him. But it was not till she found herself walking across the park to the cottage that she remembered that any inquiries as to her past life might be disagreeable to Mrs. Askerton. She had thought of asking her friend plainly whether the names of Vigo and Berdmore had ever been familiar to her; but she reminded herself that there had been rumours afloat, and that there might be a mystery. Mrs. Askerton would sometimes talk of her early life; but she would do this with dreamy, indistinct language, speaking of the sorrows of her girlhood, but not specifying their exact nature, seldom mentioning any names, and never referri

se of his days, and nothing more idle. He breakfasted at eleven, smoked and read till the afternoon, when he rode for an hour or two; then he dined, read again, smoked again, and went to bed. In September and October he shot, and twice in the year, as has been before stated, went away to seek a little e

rs. Askerton, "why didn't you come ye

rown to be quite industrious

g the land into his own

and buy cattle; and I don't know what he doesn

won't want

of his own in Nor

for that purpose. When I heard of h

ou for the world," said Clara, enthusiasticall

ting if he liked it,-that is always supposi

ejudices, and it seems to be recognised that he is to have his own way

if you ask him not,"

moment if Colonel A

ching the ostler to grease the horse's

f everything

blushed. Was it not cruel that she could not say a word in favour of a friend and a cousin,-a cousin who had promised to be a brother to her, without being treated with su

all;-but I should simply take up my bed and walk. Pray tell him that I hope I shall

skerton's horse was brought to the door, and he could not the

ours is," said Mrs. Askerton, a

bout him! He's always doing something. He says that doing good

practical

hat is going on, instead of moping in the house. He couldn't bear the idea of Wi

, ind

t Will? He'

o much the better if he's to b

othing more, M

uite sure

s a sixth, eighth, or tenth cousin makes no difference. He is the nearest I have on that side; and since my poor brother's death he is papa's heir. It is so natural that h

y dear;-suspi

es I ever knew,-perhaps the finest I ever did know. His energy and good-nature together are just the qualities to

e with you? It would be the most proper, and

as though a woman has nothing else t

nothing else

at deal else.

f the question on

am so happy that it is so. But it isn't in the way that you mean. Heaven knows that I may want a friend so

love before under similar circumstances,

't end in any

u so indignant,-is simply a suggestion that a thing should happen wh

of my sex, when I find that I cannot talk of myself to another woman without being supposed to be either in love or thinking of love,-either looking for it or avoiding it. When

to irritate you, because your

d afterwards of my own energy. And now, if you pleas

t him, even as the e

ara, as she said this, did not look direct at her friend's face; but still she could perceive that Mrs. Askerton was disconcert

hen said. "And

remembers to have been like you. He says that the lady was a Miss Vigo." As she pronounced

e which made Clara feel that all was not right with her. "I remember that there wer

one he remembers mar

en Clara looked at her, feeling that if she abstained from doing so, the very fact of her so abstaining would be remarkable. There was the look of pain on Mrs. Askerton's brow, and

othing

e came a ring at the front door, and in another minute Mr. Belton was in the room. Mrs. Askerton felt that it was imperative on her to make some allusion to

friend, Mrs. Askerton," he said; "indeed there was hardly what might be called an acquaint

isn't more often found to be l

y as to give rise to mistakes as to identity. Now, I should

r the name of Berdmore in

in recovering the usual tone of her countenance, but now she

ve seen it in this

ore,-a long while ago, before he was married; and you may probably have heard him mention the name." This did not quite satisfy Clara, bu

e cheerful, was almost successful. "So you're going back into Norfolk on Saturday,

n hardly ever dare to leave their work. But in spite of my

o have a farming est

egin the work before him. He had some idea that too much precipitancy might do him an injury, but he hardly knew how to commence w

orn they were one and t

ee that th

saw that Miss Vigo in some trouble. I happened to meet her in company

-how disa

harm in mentioning it now. It was the man sh

he Mr. B

about Mrs. Askerton just now so like the look of th

was certainly a Miss Oliphant. A

she said. You hav

two y

intim

rtainly been a great comfort to me. It is sad not having some woman ne

t it's a

park, away from the house, up to a high rock which stood boldly out of the ground, from whence could be seen the sea on one side, and on the other a far tract of c

n all England,

. I say it's the prettiest in Eng

tiest girl in England, and

a cousin was not quite so perfect as she had represented him to b

I think you very handsome?" he said, tur

ubject talked about at all. What would you think i

a great difference. Clara, I love you b

l her boastings she should have made so gross a blunder. "I hope you do love me," she

y me now, Clara. Clara, I

she ex

if I have been too sudde

said this. Do not go on until ev

r between us? Why should it

ill pap

en me his consent. I asked him directly I had made u

a? Oh dear, oh dear

ood before her. He was a tall, well-built, handsome man, and he could assume

ousin-that I have already learned to trust you as thou

love me then

ving her. She, as she saw him go, wished that he would return that she might say some word of comfort to him. Not that she could have said the only word that would have comforted him. At the first blush of the thing, at the first sound of the address which he had made to

coat, while his large hands rested on his breast. He would always assume this attitude when he was assured that he was right in his views, and was eager to carry some point at issue. Clara already understood that this attitude signifi

no," she

rest to us both you will not let

hat; indeed,

ther, but I did not know then how fondly I should come to love you. Your father, when I told him of this, bade me not to be hasty; but I am hasty, and I haven't known h

brother

looking anxiously into his face, watching every turn in the expression

self; giving her no option but to wait and think of it. He should have made no proposal, but have left her certain that such proposal was coming. In such case she must have waited-and if good could have come to him from that, he might h

my answer when I know what it must

s impossible that y

that way

sk such a question as that, and I should be worse than a foo

his arm. "Oh, Will, do n

considered as set

but not close as she had been before. She turned her eyes upon him, gazing on him, but did not speak to him; and he sat als

nd tell me that you will st

ver want a brother's care you s

a brother

ou because my love is in vain. Instead of making me happy

to make you happy, i

walked in silence back to the house, and when he had opened the front door for h