Anthony Trollope: The Belton Estate

6. CHAPTER VI: SAFE AGAINST LOVE-MAKING ONCE AGAIN (continued)

'This is so good of you,' he said.

'I wish I knew how to be good to you,' she answered not meaning to trench upon dangerous ground, but feeling, as the words came from her, that she had done so. 'You have been so good to us, so very good to papa, that we owe you everything. I am so grateful to you for saying that you will come back at Christmas.'

He had resolved that he would refrain from further love-making till the winter; but he found it very hard to refrain when so addressed. To take her in his arms, and kiss her twenty times, and swear that he would never let her go to claim her at once savagely as his own, that was the line of conduct to which temptation prompted him. How could she look at him so sweetly, how could she stand before him, ministering to him with all her pretty maidenly charms brought so close to him, without intending that he should love her? But he did refrain. 'Blood is thicker than water,' said he. 'That's the real reason why I first came.'

'I understand that quite, and it is that feeling that makes you so good. But I'm afraid you are spending a great deal of money here and all for our sakes.'

'Not at all. I shall get my money back again. And if I didn't, what then? I've plenty of money. it is not money that I want.'

She could not ask him what it was that he did want, and she was obliged therefore to begin again. 'Papa will look forward so to the winter now.'

'And so shall I.'

'But you must come for longer then you won't go away at the end of a week? Say that you won't.'

'I'll see about it. I can't tell quite yet. You'll write me a line to say when the shed is finished, won't you?'