‘Take her back steady, Jem,’ he said to the boy.

‘I’ll be sure to take her wery steady,’ Jem answered, ’and tell Compton to have the samples of barley ready for me.  I may be back any day, and we shall be sowing early this spring.’

Then he left his cart, followed the porter who had taken his luggage eagerly, knowing that Mr Belton was always good for sixpence, and in five minutes’ time he was again in motion.

On his arrival in London he drove at once to the chambers of his friend, Mr Green, and luckily found the lawyer there.  Had he missed doing this, it was his intention to go out to his friend’s house; and in that case he could not have gone down to Taunton till the next morning; but now he would be able to say what he wished to say, and hear what he wished to hear, and would travel down by the night- mail train.  He was anxious that Clara should feel that he had hurried to her without a moment’s delay.  It would do no good.  He knew that.  Nothing that he could do would alter her, or be of any service to him.  She had accepted this man, and had herself no power of making a change, even if she should wish it.  But still there was to him something of gratification in the idea that she should be made to feel that he, Belton, was more instant in his affection, more urgent in his good offices, more anxious to befriend her in her difficulties, than the man whom she had consented to take for her husband.  Aylmer would probably go down to Belton, but Will was very anxious to be the first on the ground very anxious though his doing so could be of no use.  All this was wrong on his part.  He knew that it was wrong, and he abused himself for his own selfishness.  But such self-abuse gave him no aid in escaping from his own wickedness.  He would, if possible, be at Belton before Captain Aylmer; and he would, if possible, make Clara feel that, though he was not a Member of Parliament, though he was not much given to books, though he was only a farmer, yet he had at any rate as much heart and spirit as the fine gentleman whom she preferred to him.

‘I thought I should see you,’ said the lawyer; ’but I hardly expected you so soon as this.’

’I ought to have been a day sooner, only we don’t get our telegraphic messages on a Sunday.’

He still kept his greatcoat on; and it seemed by his manner that he had no intention of staying where he was above a minute or two.

‘You’ll come out and dine with me today?’ said Mr Green.

‘I can’t do that, for I shall go down by the mail train.’

’I never saw such a fellow in my life.  What good will that do?  It is quite right that you should be there in time for the funeral; but I don’t suppose he will he buried before this day week.’

But Belton had never thought about the funeral.  When he had spoken to his sister of saying but a few words to Clara and then returning, he had forgotten that there would be any such ceremony, or that he would be delayed by any such necessity.