hen she had no prospect of any fortune? He could always remember
that of himself at least; and remembering that now, he could take
a delight in these bright money prospects without having to accuse
himself in the slightest degree of mercenary motives. This fortune
was a godsend which he could take with clean hands;--if only he
should ultimately be able to take the lady who possessed the fortune!

From London he wrote to Clara, telling her that he proposed to visit
her at Belton. His letter was written before he had seen Mr. Green,
and was not very fervent in its expressions; but, nevertheless, it
was a fair letter, written with the intention of giving her a fair
chance. He had seen with great sorrow,--"with heartfelt grief," that
quarrel between his mother and his own Clara. Thinking, as he felt
himself obliged to think, about Mrs. Askerton, he could not but
feel that his mother had cause for her anger. But he himself was
unprejudiced, and was ready, and anxious also,--the word anxious
was underscored,--to carry out his engagement. A few words between
them might probably set everything right, and therefore he proposed
to meet her at the Belton Castle house, at such an hour, on such
a day. He should run down to Perivale on his journey, and perhaps
Clara would let him have a line addressed to him there. Such was his
letter.

"What do you think of that?" said Clara, showing it to Mrs. Askerton
on the afternoon of the day on which she had received it.

"What do you think of it?" said Mrs. Askerton. "I can only hope, that
he will not come within the reach of my hands."

"You are not angry with me for showing it to you?"

"No;--why should I be angry with you? Of course I knew it all without
any showing. Do not tell Colonel Askerton, or they will be killing
each other."

"Of course I shall not tell Colonel Askerton; but I could not help
showing this to you."

"And you will meet him?"

"Yes; I shall meet him. What else can I do?"

"Unless, indeed, you were to write and tell him that it would do no
good."

"It will be better that he should come."

"If you allow him to talk you over you will be a wretched woman all
your life."

"It will be better that he should come," said Clara again. And then
she wrote to Captain Aylmer at Perivale, telling him that she would
be at the house at the hour he had named, on the day he had named.

When that day came she walked across the park a little before the
time fixed, not wis