Anthony Trollope: The Belton Estate

5. CHAPTER V: NOT SAFE AGAINST LOVE-MAKING (continued)

'And intimately?

'Very intimately. She is our only neighbour; and her being here has certainly been a great comfort to me. It is sad not having some woman near one that one can speak to and then, I really do like her very much.'

'No doubt it's all right.'

'Yes; it's all right,' said Clara. After that there was nothing more said about Mrs Askerton, and Belton began his work. They had gone from the cottage, across the park, away from the house, up to a high rock which stood boldly out of the ground, from whence could be seen the sea on one side, and on the other a far track of country almost away to the moors. And when they reached this spot they seated themselves. 'There,' said Clara, 'I consider this to be the prettiest spot in England.'

'I haven't seen all England,' said Belton.

'Don't be so matter-of-fact, Will. I say it's the prettiest in England, and you can't contradict me.'

'And I say you're the prettiest girl in England, and you can't contradict me.'

This annoyed Clara, and almost made her feel that her paragon of a cousin was not quite so perfect as she had represented him to be. 'I see', she said, 'that if I talk nonsense I'm to be punished.'

'Is it a punishment to you to know that I think you very handsome?' he said, turning round and looking full into her face.

'It is disagreeable to me very, to have any such subject talked about at all. What would you think if I began to pay you foolish personal compliments?'

'What I say isn't foolish; and there's a great difference. Clara, I love you better than all the world put together.'