The Belton Estate

hich he had received. I do not know that he had been sanguine of success. Probably he had made to himself no assurances on the subject. But he was a man to

t was so. He had been told that she could not love him-that she could never love him;-and he had believed her. He had made his attempt and had failed; and, as he th

nts five minutes to dinner." Belton started and shook himself, as though he were shaking off a lethargy, and declared that he was quite ready. Then he remembered that he would be

ade no attempt to conceal it, though he did not speak of it. Through the whole evening, though he was alone for a while with the squire, and alone also for a time with Clara, he never mentioned or alluded to the subject of his rejection. But he bore himself as though he knew and they knew-as though all the world knew that he had been rejected. And yet he did not remain silent. He t

uestion had come before her for decision so suddenly, that she had not, in fact, had time to think of this as she was making her answer. All she had done was to feel that she could not be to him what he wished her to be. And even as yet she had hardly asked herself why she must be so steadfast in her refusal. But

jected lover took with most extreme patience, as though such a trifling annoyance had no effect in adding anything to his misery. He still held his purpose of going on the Saturday, and was still inten

wont, went up to her father's room. "Papa,"

y dear? what

his wife; and has told me th

amiss with him? Why shouldn't you marry him if he lik

a proposition from her cousin would have made her father angry,-unreasonably angry;-angry with him for presuming to

ot like that. I did not expect that

It would be a very good marriage for

marry any one for that

m. I meant to do for the best; and when he came to me as he did, I th

e he woul

ce would be your home when I am gone, it w

, papa, you do not make yourself uneasy about me. I shall do v

nterfield means to provide for you, it would only be kind in her to le

st felt that it was her duty to do so, but she could not bring herself to do it. She could only beg him not to be anxious on her beha

certainly," she answered. Then he turned awa

be no doubt on that subject in her own mind. When she sat down, resolved to give herself an answer, the

though they do often mean so much. It was now two years since she had first thought that Captain Aylmer was the most perfect gentleman she knew, and nearly two years since Mrs. Winterfield had expressed to her a hope that Captain Aylmer might become her husband. She had replied that such a thing was impossible,-as any girl would have replied; and had in consequence treated Captain Aylmer with all the coolness which she had been able to assume whenever she was in company with him in her aunt's presence. Nor was it natural to her to be specia

own,-a man altogether uncontaminated by the coldness and selfishness of the outer world. But he was rough, awkward, but indifferently educated, and with few of those tastes which to Clara Amedroz were delightful. He could not read poetry to her, he could not tell her of what the world of literature was doing now or of what it had done in times past. He knew nothing of

Will was of the two the fitter to be loved,-the one more worthy of her heart,-no such proof could alter her position. Love does not go

doning any project which he had set before himself. He had been awkward, and he exaggerated to himself his own awkwardness. He had been hasty, and had gone about his task with inconsiderate precipitancy. It might be that he had thus destroyed all his chance of success. But, as he said to himself, "he would never say die, as long as ther

said nothing of yesterday, and almost succeeded in looking as though yesterday had been in no wise memorable. She was not so much at her ease, but she also received some comfort

squire. "I thought it

olishly seemed to unsettle it. But I have thought

glad to have y

to come. They are already a

querulously. "I didn't know there was to be any brickwork. Y

I propose to carry the brickwork a

st. Only that kind of

y after it is done, it sh

never come

don't like it. I never think a

l be very prett

ny rate it won't make much difference to

Clara and to her father, that he had in a great measure overcome the disappointment of the preceding day. It was probable that he was a man not

eived that this cow was perfect in her kind. Her eyes were mild, and soft, and bright. Her legs were like the legs of a deer; and in her whole gait and demeanour she almost gave the lie to her own name, asserting herself to have sprung from some more noble origin among the woods, than may be supposed

is own, was not pleased to see one brought up in that way

f yesterday, she would have welcomed the animal with all cordiality, and would have sworn to her cousin that the cow sho

shfulness or apparent regret. "I told you I wo

nt with a cow?"

. At any rate she won't refuse the

"Not if papa will

it!" said the squire. "We

ng this little creature for Clara, and you mustn't stand in the way of my gratificatio

er was out, and he was not specially invited in to see the mistress. He said nothing more to Clara about her friends, but he thought of the matter more than once, as he was going about the place, and became aware that he would like to ascertain whether there was a mystery, and if so, what was it

cousin had been the creation of some new excitement for him, but he said nothing on the subject; and when the time for going to bed had come, he bade his guest farewell with some languid allusion to the pleasure which he would have in seeing him again at Chris

o," h

ave you go without seei

her to disturb so salutary an arrangement! But yet she was up to bid him Godspeed as he went. She could not bear,-so she excused the matter to herself,-she could not bear to think that he should regard her as ungrateful. She knew all that he had done for them. She had perceived that the taking of the land, the building of the sheds, the life which he had contrived in so short a time to throw into the old place, had all come from a desire on his part to do good to those in whose wa

ring which they must speak to each other. Who has not seen some such girl when she has come down early, without the full completeness of her morning toilet, and yet nicer, fresher, prettier to the eye of him who is so f

good of yo

eling, as the words came from her, that she had done so. "You have been so good to us, so very good to p

d never let her go,-to claim her at once savagely as his own, that was the line of conduct to which temptation prompted him. How could she look at him so sweetly, how could she stand before him, ministering to

at makes you so good. But I'm afraid you are spendi

ain. And if I didn't, what then? I've ple

nt, and she was obliged therefore to begin again

so sh

en;-you won't go away at the end

e yet. You'll write me a line to say

on." Bessy was the cow. "I will be so very fond

without thinking of apples." Then the gig was heard on the gravel before the door, and Belton was forced to go. For a moment he reflected whether, as her cousin, it was not his duty to kiss her. It was a matter as to which h

hink he might have kissed her, asking himself n

it were, of their own teeth. He knew that he could not now run away with her, taking her off by force; but still he might conquer her will by his own. As he remembered the tears in her eyes, and the tone of her voice, and the pressure of her hand, and the gratitude that had become tender in its expression, he could not but think that he would be wise to love her still. Wise or foolish, he did love her st

t she was sure. Her love might be fortunate or unfortunate. It might be returned, or it might simply be her own, to destroy all hope of happiness for her on earth. But whether it were this or that, whether productive of good or evil, the love itself could not be changed. But with men she thought it might be different. Her cousin, doubtless, had been sincere in the full sincerity of his heart when he made his offer. And had she accepted it,-had she been able to accept it,-she believed that he would have loved her tr

it so well;-very glad! Her cousin was