the
two men, but she knew well that such had been her fate.

On a sudden she rose from her chair, as though remembering a duty to
be performed, and went to the kitchen and directed that breakfast
might be got ready for Mr. Belton. He would have travelled all
night,--and would be in want of food. Since the old squire's death
there had been no regular meal served in the house, and Clara had
taken such scraps of food and cups of tea as the old servant of the
house had brought to her. But now the cloth must be spread again,
and as she did this with her own hands she remembered the dinners
which had been prepared for Captain Aylmer at Perivale after his
aunt's death. It seemed to her that she was used to be in the house
with death, and that the sadness and solemn ceremonies of woe were
becoming things familiar to her. There grew upon her a feeling that
it must be so with her always. The circumstances of her life would
ever be sad. What right had she to expect any other fate after such
a catastrophe as that which her brother had brought upon the family?
It was clear to her that she had done wrong in supposing that she
could marry and live with a prosperous man of the world like Captain
Aylmer. Their natures were different, and no such union could lead to
any good. So she told herself, with much misery of spirit, as she was
preparing the breakfast-table for William Belton.

But William Belton did not come to eat the breakfast. He got what he
wanted in that way at the inn at Redicote, and even then hesitated,
loitering at the bar, before he would go over. What was he to say,
and how would he be received? After all, had he not done amiss in
coming to a house at which he probably might not be wanted? Would
it not be thought that his journey had been made solely with a view
to his own property? He would be regarded as the heir pouncing upon
the inheritance before as yet the old owner was under the ground. At
any rate it would be too early for him to make his visit yet awhile;
and, to kill time, he went over to a carpenter who had been employed
by him about the place at Belton. The carpenter spoke to him as
though everything were his own, and was very intent upon future
improvements. This made Will more disgusted with himself than ever,
and before he could get out of the carpenter's yard he thoroughly
wished himself back at Plaistow. But having come so far, he could
hardly return without seeing his cousin, and at last he had hims