Anthony Trollope: The Belton Estate

24. CHAPTER XXIV: THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY HOTEL (continued)

'My mother is very anxious that Miss Amedroz should pay her a visit at Aylmer Park,' said the captain.

'And she's going to Aylmer Park, so your mother's anxiety need not disturb her any longer.'

'Come, Will, don't be out of temper with us,' said Clara. 'It is our last night together. We, who are so dear to each other, ought not to quarrel.'

'I'm not quarrelling with you, said he.

'I can hardly suppose that Mr Belton wants to quarrel with me,' said Captain Aylmer, smiling.

'I'm sure he does not,' said Clara. Belton sat silent, with his eyes fixed upon the table, and with a dark frown upon his brow. He did long to quarrel with Captain Aylmer; but was still anxious, if it might be possible, to save himself from what he knew would be a transgression.

'To use a phrase common with us down in Yorkshire,' said Aylmer, 'I should say that Mr Belton had got out of bed the wrong side this morning.'

'What the d does it matter to you, sir, what side I got out of bed?' said Will, clenching both his fists. Oh if he might have only been allowed to have a round of five minutes with Aylmer, he would have been restored to good temper for that night, let the subsequent results have been what they might. He moved his feet impatiently on the floor, as though he were longing to kick something; and then he pushed his coffee-cup away from him, upsetting half the contents upon the table, and knocking down a wineglass, which was broken.

'Will Will!' said Clara, looking at him with imploring eyes.

'Then he shouldn't talk to me about getting out of bed on the wrong side; I didn't say anything to him.'

'It is unkind of you, Will, to quarrel with Captain Aylmer because he is my friend.'