Anthony Trollope: The Belton Estate

13. CHAPTER XIII: MR WILLIAM BELTON TAKES A WALK IN THE COUNTRY (continued)

But not on that his first night would he begin to speak of Clara Amedroz. He would not let his sister believe that his heart was too full of the subject to allow of his thinking of other matters. Mary was still up, waiting for him when he arrived, with tea, and cream, and fruit ready for him. 'Oh, Mary!' he said, 'why are you not in bed? You know that I would have come to you upstairs.' She excused herself, smiling, declaring that she could not deny herself the pleasure of being with him for half an hour on his first return from his travels. 'Of course I want to know what they are like,' she said.

'He is a nice-looking old man,' said Will 'and she is a nice-looking young woman.'

'That is graphic and short, at any rate.'

'And he is weak and silly, but she is strong and and and'

'Not silly also, I hope?'

'Anything but that. I should say she is very clever.'

'I'm afraid you don't like her, Will.'

'Yes, I do.'

'Really?'

'Yes; really.'

'And did she take your coming well?'

'Very well. I think she is much obliged to me for going.'

'And Mr Amedroz?'

'He liked my coming too very much.'

'What after that cold letter?

'Yes, indeed. I shall explain it all by degrees. I have taken a lease of all the land, and I'm to go back at Christmas; and as to the old gentleman he'd have me live there altogether if I would.'