Anthony Trollope: The Belton Estate

30. CHAPTER XXX: MARY BELTON (continued)

'And so have not I,' said Clara, and yet I expect to hear from him.'

'He means to be here soon,' said Mary.

'Oh, indeed!

'He speaks of being here next week.'

For a moment or two Clara had yielded to the agitation caused by her cousin's tidings; but with a little gush she recovered her presence of mind, and was able to speak with all the hypocritical propriety of a female. 'I am glad to hear it,' she said. 'It is only right that he should come.'

'He has asked me to say a word to you as to the purport of his journey.'

Then again Clara's courage and hypocrisy were so far subdued that they were not able to maintain her in a position adequate to the occasion. 'Well,' she said laughing, 'what is the word? I hope it is not that I am to pack up, bag and baggage, and take myself elsewhere. Cousin William is one of those persons who are willing to do everything except what they are wanted to do. He will go on talking about the Belton estate, when I want to know whether I may really look for as much as twelve shillings a week to live upon.'

'He wants me to speak to you about about the earnest love he bears for you.'

'Oh dear! Mary could you not suppose it all to be said? It is an old trouble, and need not be repeated.'

'No,' said Mary, 'I cannot suppose it to be all said.' Clara looking up as she heard the voice, was astonished both by the fire in the woman's eye and by the force of her tone. 'I will not think so meanly of you as to believe that such words from such a man can be passed by as meaning nothing. I will not say that you ought to be able to love him; in that you cannot control your heart; but if you cannot love him, the want of such love ought to make you suffer to suffer much and be very sad.'