Anthony Trollope: The Belton Estate

8. CHAPTER VIII: CAPTAIN AYLMER MEETS HIS CONSTITUENTS (continued)

'No, no; it will not be the last. But do not talk about these things. And it will be so much better that I should be here when he is not here.'

'I had hoped that when I died you might both be with me together as husband and wife.'

'Such hopes never come to anything.'

'I still think that he would wish it.'

'That is nonsense, aunt. it is indeed, for neither of us wish it.' A lie on such a subject from a woman under such circumstances is hardly to be considered a lie at all. It is spoken with no mean object, and is the only bulwark which the woman has ready at her need to cover her own weakness.

'From what he said yesterday,' continued Mrs Winterfield, 'I think it is your own fault.'

'Pray pray do not talk in that way. It cannot be matter of any fault that two people do not want to marry each other.'

'Of course I asked him no positive question. It would be indelicate even in me to have done that. But he spoke as though he thought very highly of you.'

'No doubt he does. And so do I of Mr Possitt.'

'Mr Possitt is a very excellent young man,' said Mrs Winterfield, gravely. Mr Possitt was, indeed, her favourite curate of Perivale, and always dined at the house on Sundays between services, when Mrs Winter-field was very particular in seeing that he took two glasses of her best port wine to support him. 'But Mr Possitt has nothing but his curacy.'

'There is no danger, aunt, I can assure you.'

'I don't know what you call danger; but Frederic seemed to think that you are always sharp with him. You don't want to quarrel with him, I hope, because I love him better than any one in the world?'