Anthony Trollope: The Belton Estate

10. CHAPTER X: SHOWING HOW CAPTAIN AYLMER KEPT HIS PROMISE (continued)

'Oh no save me from that.'

'You must understand, then, that I shall pay over to you the sum of fifteen hundred pounds as soon as the will has been proved.'

'I understand nothing of the kind. I know very well that if I were to take it, I should be accepting a present from you, and to that I cannot consent.'

'But, Clara'

'It is no good, Captain Aylmer. Though I don't pretend to understand much about law, I do know that I can have no claim to anything that is not put into the will; and I won't have what I could not claim. My mind is quite made up, and I hops I mayn't be annoyed about it. Nothing is more disagreeable than having to discuss money matters.'

Perhaps Captain Aylmer thought that the having no money matters to discuss might be even more disagreeable. 'Well,' he said, 'I can only ask you to consult any friend whom you can trust upon the matter. Ask your father, or Mr Belton, and I have no doubt that either of them will tell you that you are as much entitled to the legacy as though it had been written in the will.'

'On such a matter, Captain Aylmer, I don't want to ask anybody. You can't pay me the money unless I choose to take it, and I certainly shall not do that.' Upon hearing this he smiled, assuming, as Clara fancied that he was sometimes wont to do, a look of quiet superiority; and then, for that time, he allowed the subject to be dropped between them.