Anthony Trollope: The Belton Estate

14. CHAPTER XIV: MR WILLIAM BELTON TAKES A WALK IN LONDON (continued)

'Yes and am now on my way there. I believe you know them also intimately.' Then there was some explanation as to the Winterfield connexion, a few remarks as to the precarious state of the old squire's health, a message or two from Captain Aylmer, which of course were of no importance, and the captain took his leave.

Then Green and Briton became very comfortably intimate in their conversation, calling each other Will and Joe for they were old and close friends. And they discussed matters in that cozy tone of confidential intercourse which is so directly at variance with the tones used by men when they ordinarily talk of business. 'He has brought me good news for your friend, Miss Amedroz,' said the lawyer.

'What good news?'

'That aunt of hers left her fifteen hundred pounds, after all. Or rather, she did not leave it, but desired on her death-bed that it might be given.'

'That's the same thing, I suppose?'

'Oh quite that is to say, it's the same thing if the person who has to hand over the money does not dispute the legacy. But it shows how the old lady's conscience pricked her at last. And after all it was a shabby sum, and should have been three times as much.'

'Fifteen hundred pounds! And that is all she will have when her father dies 7'

'Every farthing, Will. You'll take all the rest.'

'I wish she wasn't going to have that.'

'Why? Why on earth should you of all men grudge her such a moderate maintenance, seeing that you have not got to pay it?'

'It isn't a maintenance. How could it be a maintenance for such as her? What sort of maintenance would it be?'

'Much better than nothing. And so you would feel if she were your daughter.'