Anthony Trollope: The Belton Estate

27. CHAPTER XXVII: ONCE MORE BACK TO BELTON (continued)

And so eloquent was the colonel that Clara was staggered, though she was not convinced. 'It is quite impossible,' she said. 'Though he may be able to make it over to me, I can give it back again.'

'I think not. In such a matter as this a lady in your position can only be guided by her natural advisers her father's lawyer and other family friends.'

'I don't know why a young lady should be in any way different from an old gentleman.'

'But an old gentleman would not hesitate under such circumstances. The entail in itself was a cruelty, and the operation of it on your poor brother's death was additionally cruel.'

'It is cruel that any one should be poor,' argued Clara; 'but that does not take away the right of a rich man to his property.'

There was much more of this sort said between them, till Clara was at any rate convinced that Colonel Askerton believed that she ought to be the owner of the property. And then at last he ventured upon another argument which soon drove Clara out of the room. 'There is, I believe, one way in which it can all be made right,' said he.

'What way? 'said Clara, forgetting in her eagerness the obviousness of the mode which her companion was about to point out.

'Of course, I know nothing of this myself,' he said smiling; 'but Mary thinks that you and your cousin might arrange it between you if you were together.'

'You must not listen to what she says about that, Colonel Askerton.' 'Must I not? Well; I will not listen to more than I can help; but Mary, as you know, is a persistent talker. I, at any rate, have done my commission.' Then Clara left him and was alone for what remained of the afternoon.