rce tone, of which she
understood accurately the cause and meaning. "All money matters about
the place must be settled by me. Indeed, that's why I came down."

"Not only for that, Will?"

"Just to be useful in that way, I mean."

"You came to see me,--because you knew I should want you." Surely
this was malice prepense! Knowing what was his want, how could she
exasperate it by talking thus of her own? "As for money, I have no
claim on any one. No creature was ever more forlorn. But I will not
talk of that."

"Did you not say that you would treat me as a brother?"

"I did not mean that I was to be a burden on you."

"I know what I meant, and that is sufficient."

Belton had been at the house some hours before he made any sign
of leaving her, and when he did so he had to explain something
of his plans. He would remain, he said, for about a week in the
neighbourhood. She of course was obliged to ask him to stay at the
house,--at the house which was in fact his own; but he declined to do
this, blurting out his reason at last very plainly. "Captain Aylmer
would not like it, and I suppose you are bound to think of what he
likes and dislikes." "I don't know what right Captain Aylmer would
have to dislike any such thing," said Clara. But, nevertheless,
she allowed the reason to pass as current, and did not press her
invitation. Will declared that he would stay at the inn at Redicote,
striving to explain in some very unintelligible manner that such an
arrangement would be very convenient. He would remain at Redicote,
and would come over to Belton every day during his sojourn in the
country. Then he asked one question in a low whisper as to the last
sad ceremony, and, having received an answer, started off with the
declared intention of calling on Colonel Askerton.

The next two or three days passed uncomfortably enough with Will
Belton. He made his head-quarters at the little inn of Redicote, and
drove himself backwards and forwards between that place and the
estate which was now his own. On each of these days he saw Colonel
Askerton, whom he found to be a civil pleasant man, willing enough to
rid himself of the unpleasant task he had undertaken, but at the same
time, willing also to continue his services if any further services
were required of him. But of Mrs. Askerton on these occasions Will
saw nothing, nor had he ever spoken to her since the time of his
first visit to the Castle. Then came the day of the funeral,