an arrangement to
that effect made between her and Clara. "I'll stay away if you like
it," Mrs. Askerton had said. But Clara had urged her to come, arguing
with her that she was foolish to be thinking always of her own
misfortune. "Of course I am always thinking of it," she had replied,
"and always thinking that other people are thinking of it. Your
cousin, Miss Belton, knows all my history, of course. But what
matters? I believe it would be better that everybody should know it.
I suppose she's very straight-laced and prim." "She is not prim at
all," said Clara. "Well, I'll come," said Mrs. Askerton, "but I shall
not be a bit surprised if I hear that she goes back to Norfolk the
next day."

So Mrs. Askerton came, and Miss Belton did not go back to Norfolk.
Indeed, at the end of the visit, Mrs. Askerton had almost taught
herself to believe that William Belton had kept his secret, even from
his sister. "She's a dear little woman," Mrs. Askerton afterwards
said to Clara.

"Is she not?"

"And so thoroughly like a lady."

"Yes; I think she is a lady."

"A princess among ladies! What a pretty little conscious way she has
of asserting herself when she has an opinion and means to stick to
it! I never saw a woman who got more strength out of her weakness.
Who would dare to contradict her?"

"But then she knows everything so well," said Clara.

"And how like her brother she is!"

"Yes;--there is a great family likeness."

"And in character, too. I'm sure you'd find, if you were to try her,
that she has all his personal firmness, though she can't show it as
he does by kicking out his feet and clenching his fist."

"I'm glad you like her," said Clara.

"I do like her very much."

"It is so odd,--the way you have changed. You used to speak of him as
though he was merely a clod of a farmer, and of her as a stupid old
maid. Now, nothing is too good to say of them."

"Exactly, my dear;--and if you do not understand why, you are not so
clever as I take you to be."

Life went on very pleasantly with them at Belton for two or three
weeks;--but with this drawback as regarded Clara, that she had no
means of knowing what was to be the course of her future life. During
these weeks she twice received letters from her cousin Will, and
answered both of them. But these letters referred to matters of
business which entailed no contradiction,--to certain details of
money due to the estate before the old squire's death, and to t