Anthony Trollope: The Belton Estate

28. CHAPTER XXVIII: MISS AMEDROZ IS PURSUED (continued)

'I will not take that answer from you,' he said, getting up from his chair, and walking once up and down the room. Then he returned to it, and repeated his words. 'I will not take that answer from you. An engagement such as ours cannot be put aside like an old glove. You do not mean to tell me that all that has been between us is to mean nothing.' There was something now like feeling in his tone, something like passion in his gesture, and Clara, though she had no thought of changing her purpose, was becoming unhappy at the idea of his unhappiness.

'It has meant nothing,' she said. 'We have been like children together, playing at being in love. It is a game from which you will come out scatheless, but I have been scalded.'

'Scalded!'

'Well never mind. I do not mean to complain, and certainly not of you.'

'I have come here all the way from Yorkshire in order that things may be put right between us.'

'You have been very good very good to come, and I will not say that I regret your trouble. It is best, I think, that we should meet each other once more face to face, so that we may understand each other. There was no understanding anything during those terrible days at Aylmer Park.' Then she paused, but as he did not speak at once she went on. 'I do not blame you for anything that has taken place, but I am quite sure of this that you and I could never be happy together as man and wife.'

'I do not know why you say so; I do not indeed.'

'You would disapprove of everything that I should do. You do disapprove of what I am doing now.'

'Disapprove of what?'

'I am staying with my friend, Mrs Askerton.'