Anthony Trollope: The Belton Estate

24. CHAPTER XXIV: THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY HOTEL (continued)

She went down-stairs and met Captain Aylmer in the sitting-room. He stepped up to her as soon as the door was closed, and she could at once see that he had determined to forget the unpleasantness of the previous evening. He stepped up to her, and gracefully taking her by one hand, and passing the other behind her waist, saluted her in a becoming and appropriate manner. She did not like it. She especially disliked it, believing in her heart of hearts that she would never become the wife of this man whom she had professed to love and whom she really had once loved. But she could only bear it. And, to say the truth, there was not much suffering of that kind to be borne.

Their journey down to Yorkshire was very prosperous. He maintained his good humour throughout the day, and never once said a word about Will Belton. Nor did he say a word about Mrs Askerton. 'Do your best to please my mother, Clara,' he said, as they were driving up from the park lodges to the house. This was fair enough, and she therefore promised him that she would do her best.