’I’ve not the slightest objection.  I don’t think, however, that you’ll find him at Belton before you.  No doubt she will have heard from him; and it strikes me as very possible that she may go to Aylmer Park.’

‘What should she go there for?’

‘Would it not be the best place for her?’

’No.  My house would be the best place for her.  I am her nearest relative.  Why should she not come to us?’

Mr Green turned round his chair and poked the fire, and fidgeted about for some moments before he answered.  ’My dear fellow, you must know that that wouldn’t do.’  He then said, ’You ought to feel that it wouldn’t do you ought indeed.’

’Why shouldn’t my sister receive Miss Amedroz as well as that old woman down in Yorkshire?’

‘If I may tell you, I will.’

‘Of course you may tell me.’

’Because Miss Amedroz is engaged to be married to that old woman’s son, and is not engaged to be married to your sister’s brother.  The thing is done, and what is the good of interfering?  As far as she is concerned, a great burden is off your hands.’

‘What do you mean by a burden?’

’I mean that her engagement to Captain Aylmer makes it unnecessary for you to suppose that she is in want of any pecuniary assistance.  You told me once before that you would feel yourself called upon to see that she wanted nothing.’

‘So I do now.’

‘But Captain Aylmer will look after that.’

’I tell you what it is, Joe; I mean to settle the Belton property in such a way that she shall have it, and that he shan’t be able to touch it.  And it shall go to some one who shall have my name William Belton.  That’s what I want you to arrange for me.’

‘After you are dead, you mean.’

’I mean now, at once.  I won’t take the estate from her.  I hate the place and everything belonging to it.  I don’t mean her.  There is no reason for hating her.’

‘My dear Will, you are talking nonsense.’

‘Why is it nonsense?  I may give what belongs to me to whom I please.’

’You can do nothing of the kind at any rate, not by my assistance.  You talk as though the world were all over with you as though you were never to be married or have any children of your own.’

‘I shall never marry.’

’Nonsense, Will.  Don’t make such an ass of yourself as to suppose that you’ll not get over such a thing as this.  You’ll be married and have a dozen children yet to provide for.  Let the eldest have Belton Castle, and everything will go on then in the proper way.’

Belton had now got the poker into his hands, and sat silent for some time, knocking the coals about.  Then he got up, and took his hat, and put on his coat.  Of course I can’t make you understand me,’ he said; at any rate not all at once.  I’m not such a fool as to want to give up my property just because a girl is going to be married to a man I don’t like.  I’m not such an ass as to give him my estate for such a reason as that for it will be giving it to him, let me tie it up as I may.  But I’ve a feeling about it which makes it impossible for me to take it.  How would you like to get a thing by another fellow having destroyed himself