Anthony Trollope: The Belton Estate

21. CHAPTER XXI: MRS ASKERTON'S GENEROSITY (continued)

'My poor dear, this has been very sudden,' said Mrs Askerton.

'Very sudden very sudden. And yet, now that he has gone, I know that I expected it.'

'Of course I came to you as soon as I heard of it, because I knew you were all alone. If there had been any one else I should not have come.'

'It is very good of you.'

'Colonel Askerton thought that perhaps he had better come. I told him of all that which we said to each other the other day. He thought at first that it would be better that I should not see you.'

'It was very good of you to come,' said Clara again, and as she spoke she put out her hand and took Mrs Askerton's continuing to hold it for awhile; 'very good indeed.'

'I told him that I could not but go down to you that I thought you would not understand it if I stayed away.'

'At any rate it was good of you to come to me.'

'I don't believe,' said Mrs Askerton, 'that what people call consolation is ever of any use. It is a terrible thing to lose a father.'

'Very terrible. Ah, dear, I have hardly yet found out how sad it is. As yet I have only been thinking of myself, and wishing that I could be with him.'

'Nay, Clara.'

'How can I help it? What am I to do? Or where am I to go? Of what use is life to such a one as me? And for him who would dare to wish him back again? When people have fallen and gone down in the world, it is bad for them to go on living. Everything is a trouble, and there is nothing but vexation.'