at she could say to comfort him. She had
altogether mistaken the nature of the man's regard, and had even
mistaken the very nature of the man. So much she now learned, and
could tell herself that had she known him better she would either
have prevented this second visit, or would have been careful that he
should have learned the truth from herself before he came. Now she
could only wait till he should again have got strength to hide his
suffering under the veil of his own manliness.

"I have not a word to say against what you are doing," he said at
last; "not a word. But you will understand what I mean when I tell
you that it is not likely that you will come to Plaistow."

"Some day, Will, when you have a wife of your own--"

"Very well; but we won't talk about that at present, if you please.
When I have, things will be different. In the meantime your course
and mine will be separate. You, I suppose, will be with him in
London, while I shall be,--at the devil as likely as not."

"How can you speak to me in that way? Is that like being my brother?"

"I don't feel like being your brother. However, I beg your pardon,
and now we will have done with it. Spilt milk can't be helped, and
my milk pans have got themselves knocked over. That's all. Don't you
think we ought to go up to your father again?"

On the following day Belton and Mr. Amedroz discussed the same
subject, but the conversation went off very quietly. Will was
determined not to exhibit his weakness before the father as he had
done before the daughter. When the squire, with a maundering voice,
drawled out some expression of regret that his daughter's choice had
not fallen in another place, Will was able to say that bygones must
be bygones. He regretted it also, but that was now over. And when
the squire endeavoured to say a few ill-natured words about Captain
Aylmer, Will stopped him at once by asserting that the Captain was
all that he ought to be.

"And it would have made me so happy to think that my daughter's child
should come to live in his grandfather's old house," murmured Mr.
Amedroz.

"And there's no knowing that he mayn't do so yet," said Will. "But
all these things are so doubtful that a man is wrong to fix his
happiness upon them." After that he went out to ramble about the
place, and before the third day was over Clara was able to perceive
that, in spite of what he had said, he was as busy about the cattle
as though his bread depended on the