e. He was now Belton of Belton, and it must be
supposed that both he and she had remembered that it was so. But
hitherto not a word had been said between them on that point. Now she
was compelled to allude to it. "Cannot she live at the Castle for the
present?"

"What;--all alone?"

"Of course she is remaining there now."

"Yes," said he, "of course she is there now. Now! Why, remember what
these telegraphic messages are. He died only on yesterday morning.
Of course she is there, but I do not think it can be good that she
should remain there. There is no one near her where she is but that
Mrs. Askerton. It can hardly be good for her to have no other female
friend at such a time as this."

"I do not think that Mrs. Askerton will hurt her."

"Mrs. Askerton will not hurt her at all,--and as long as Clara does
not know the story, Mrs. Askerton may serve as well as another. But
yet--"

"Can I go to her, Will?"

"No, dearest. The journey would kill you in winter. And he would not
like it. We are bound to think of that for her sake,--cold-hearted,
thankless, meagre-minded creature as I know he is."

"I do not know why he should be so bad."

"No, nor I. But I know that he is. Never mind. Why should we talk
about him? I suppose she'll have to go there,--to Aylmer Park. I
suppose they will send for her, and keep her there till it's all
finished. I'll tell you what, Mary,--I shall give her the place."

"What,--Belton Castle?"

"Why not? Will it ever be of any good to you or me? Do you want to go
and live there?"

"No, indeed;--not for myself."

"And do you think that I could live there? Besides, why should she be
turned out of her father's house?"

"He would not be mean enough to take it."

"He would be mean enough for anything. Besides, I should take very
good care that it should be settled upon her."

"That's nonsense, Will;--it is indeed. You are now William Belton of
Belton, and you must remain so."

"Mary,--I would sooner be Will Belton with Clara Amedroz by my side
to get through the world with me, and not the interest of an acre
either at Belton Castle or at Plaistow Hall! And I believe I should
be the richer man at the end,--if there were any good in that." Then
he went out of the room, and she heard him go through the kitchen,
and knew that he passed out into the farm-yard, towards the stable,
by the back-door. He intended, it seemed, to go on with his hunting
in spite of this death which had occur