till hoped that, even as he was resolutely cramming
his shirts into his portmanteau before he began his journey. His
cousin Clara he thought he could meet, and tender to her some
expression of good wishes as to her future life, without giving way
under the effort. And to the old squire he could endeavour to make
himself pleasant, speaking of the relief from all trouble which this
marriage with Captain Aylmer would afford,--for now, in his cooler
moments, he could perceive that Captain Aylmer was not a man apt
to ruin himself, or his wife and children. But to Captain Aylmer
himself, he could not bring himself to say pleasant things or to
express pleasant wishes. She who was to be Captain Aylmer's wife, who
loved him, would of course have told him what had occurred up among
the rocks in Belton Park; and if that was so, any meeting between
Will and Captain Aylmer would be death to the former.

Thinking of all this he journeyed down to Taunton, and thinking of
all this he made his way from Taunton across to Belton Park.

CHAPTER XV.

EVIL WORDS.

Clara Amedroz had received her two letters together,--that, namely,
from the attorney, and that from Captain Aylmer,--and the result of
those letters is already known. She accepted her lover's renewed
offer of marriage, acknowledging the force of his logic, and putting
faith in the strength of his assurances. This she did without seeking
advice from any one. Who was there from whom she could seek advice on
such a matter as that?--who, at least, was there at Belton? That her
father would, as a matter of course, bid her accept Captain Aylmer,
was, she thought, certain; and she knew well that Mrs. Askerton would
do the same. She asked no counsel from any one, but taking the two
letters up to her own room, sat down to consider them. That which
referred to her aunt's money, together with the postscript in Captain
Aylmer's letter on the same subject, would be of the least possible
moment if she could bring herself to give a favourable answer to the
other proposition. But should she not be able to do this,--should she
hesitate as to doing so at once,--then she must write to the lawyer
in very strong terms, refusing altogether to have anything to do with
the money. And in such a case as this, not a word could she say to
her father either on one subject or on the other.

But why should she not accept the offer made to her? Captain Aylmer
declared that he had determined to ask