Anthony Trollope: The Belton Estate

4. CHAPTER IV: SAFE AGAINST LOVE-MAKING (continued)

Mr Amedroz shuddered at the expressions used. It was grievous to him to hear his daughter spoken of as one respecting whom some one knew who she was and whence she came. Such knowledge respecting the daughter of such a family was, as a matter of course, common to all polite persons. 'Yes,' said Mr Amedroz, stiffly: 'you know as much as that about her, certainly.'

'And she knows as much about me. Now the question is, whether you have any objection to make?'

'Really, Mr Belton, you have taken me so much by surprise that I do not feel myself competent to answer you at once.'

'Shall we say in an hour's time, sir?' An hour's time! Mr Amedroz, if he could have been left to his own guidance, would have thought a month very little for such a work.

'I suppose you would wish me to see Clara first,' said Mr Amedroz.

'Oh dear, no. I would much rather ask her myself if only I could get your consent to my doing so.'

'And you have said nothing to her?'

'Not a word.'

'I am glad of that. You would have behaved badly, I think, had you done so while staying under my roof.'

'I thought it best, at any rate, to come to you first. But as I must be back at Plaistow on this day week, I haven't much time to lose. So if you could think about it this afternoon, you know Mr Amedroz, much bewildered, promised that he would do his best, and eventually did bring himself to give an answer on the next morning. 'I have been thinking about this all night,' said Mr Amedroz.

'I'm sure I'm very much obliged to you,' said Belton, feeling rather ashamed of his own remissness as he remembered how soundly he had himself slept.