as not been out all day, and cannot be tired," said Mrs.
Askerton, who had now walked up to the paling. "Clara, get your hat.
But, Mr. Belton, what have I done that I am to be treated in this
way? Perhaps you don't remember that you have not spoken to me since
your arrival."

"Upon my word, I beg your pardon," said he, endeavouring to stretch
his hand across the bushes. "I forgot I didn't see you this morning."

"I suppose I mustn't be angry, as this is your day of taking
possession; but it is exactly on such days as this that one likes to
be remembered."

"I didn't mean to forget you, Mrs. Askerton; I didn't, indeed. And
as for the special day, that's all bosh, you know. I haven't taken
particular possession of anything that I know of."

"I hope you will, Mr. Belton, before the day is over," said she.
Clara had at length arisen, and had gone into the house to fetch her
hat. She had not spoken a word, and even yet her cousin did not know
whether she was coming. "I hope you will take possession of a great
deal that is very valuable. Clara has gone to get her hat."

"Do you think she means to walk?"

"I think she does, Mr. Belton. And there she is at the door. Mind you
bring her back to tea."

Clara, as she came forth, felt herself quite unable to speak, or
walk, or look after her usual manner. She knew herself to be a
victim,--to be so far a victim that she could no longer control her
own fate. To Captain Aylmer, at any rate, she had never succumbed.
In all her dealings with him she had fought upon an equal footing.
She had never been compelled to own herself mastered. But now she
was being led out that she might confess her own submission, and
acknowledge that hitherto she had not known what was good for her.
She knew that she would have to yield. She must have known how happy
she was to have an opportunity of yielding; but yet,--yet, had there
been any room for choice, she thought she would have refrained from
walking with her cousin that evening. She had wept that afternoon
because she had thought that he would not come again; and now that
he had come at the first moment that was possible for him, she was
almost tempted to wish him once more away.

"I suppose you understand that when I came up this morning I came
merely to talk about business," said Belton, as soon as they were off
together.

"It was very good of you to come at all so soon after your arrival."

"I told those people in London that I would