On a sudden she rose from her chair, as though remembering a duty to be performed, and went to the kitchen and directed that breakfast might be got ready for Mr Belton.  He would have travelled all night and would be in want of food.  Since the old squire’s death there had been no regular meal served in the house, and Clara had taken such scraps of food and cups of tea as the old servant of the house had brought to her.  But now the cloth must be spread again, and as she did this with her own hands she remembered the dinners which had been prepared for Captain Aylmer at Perivale after his aunt’s death.  It seemed to her that she was used to be in the house with death, and that the sadness and solemn ceremonies of woe were. becoming things familiar to her.  There grew upon her a feeling that it must be so with her always.  The circumstances of her life would ever be sad.  What right had she to expect any other fate after such a catastrophe as that which her brother had brought upon the family?  It was clear to her that she had done wrong in supposing that she could marry and live with a prosperous man of the world like Captain Aylmer.  Their natures were different, and no such union could lead to any good.  So she told herself, with much misery of spirit, as she was preparing the breakfast-table for William Belton.

But William Belton did not come to eat the breakfast.  He got what he wanted in that way at the inn at Redicote, and even then hesitated, loitering at the bar, before he would go over.  What was he to say, and how would he be received?  After all, had he not done amiss in coming to a house at which he probably might not be wanted?  Would it not be thought that his journey had been made solely with a view to his own property?  He would be regarded as the heir pouncing upon the inheritance before as yet the old owner was under the ground.  At any rate it would be too early for him to make his visit yet awhile; and, to kill time, he went over to a carpenter who had been employed by him about the place at Belton.  The carpenter spoke to him as though everything were his own, and was very intent upon future improvements.  This made Will more disgusted with himself than ever, and before he could get out of the carpenter’s yard he thoroughly wished himself back at Plaistow.  But having come so far, he could hardly return without seeing his cousin, and at last he had himself driven over, reaching the house between eleven and twelve o’clock in the day.

Clara met him in the hall, and at once led him into the room which she had prepared for him.  He had given her his hand in the hall, but did not speak to her till she had spoken to him after the closing of the room door behind them.  ‘I thought that you would come’ she said, still holding him by the hand.

‘I did not know what to do,’ he answered.  ’I couldn’t say which was best.  Now I am here I shall only be in your way.’  He did not dare to press her hand, nor could he bring himself to take his away from her.