which is more than what I now enclose, and there
will be a great many other items, as to all of which you
shall have a proper account. When you want more, you had
better draw on me, till things are settled. It shall all
be done as soon as possible. It would not be comfortable
for you to go away without money of your own, and I
suppose you would not wish that he should pay for your
journeys and things before you are married.

Of course I made a fool of myself yesterday. I believe
that I usually do. It is not any good my begging your
pardon, for I don't suppose I shall ever trouble you any
more. Good-bye, and God bless you.

Your affectionate Cousin,

WILLIAM BELTON.

It was a bad day for me when I made up my mind to go to
Belton Castle last summer.

Clara, when she had read the letter, sat down and cried, holding the
bundle of notes in her hand. What would she do with them? Should she
send them back? Oh no;--she would do nothing to displease him, or to
make him think that she was angry with him. Besides, she had none of
that dislike to taking his money which she had felt as to receiving
money from Captain Aylmer. He had said that she would be his sister,
and she would take from him any assistance that a sister might
properly take from a brother.

She went down-stairs and met Captain Aylmer in the sitting-room. He
stepped up to her as soon as the door was closed, and she could at
once see that he had determined to forget the unpleasantnesses of the
previous evening. He stepped up to her, and gracefully taking her by
one hand, and passing the other behind her waist, saluted her in a
becoming and appropriate manner. She did not like it. She especially
disliked it, believing in her heart of hearts that she would never
become the wife of this man whom she had professed to love,--and whom
she really had once loved. But she could only bear it. And, to say
the truth, there was not much suffering of that kind to be borne.

Their journey down to Yorkshire was very prosperous. He maintained
his good humour throughout the day, and never once said a word about
Will Belton. Nor did he say a word about Mrs. Askerton. "Do your best
to please my mother, Clara," he said, as they were driving up from
the park lodges to the house. This was fair enough, and she therefore
promised him that she would do her best.

CHAPTER XXV.

MISS AMEDROZ HAS SOME HASHED CHICKEN.

Clara fe