"And so you are really going?" said Mrs. Askerton.
"Yes; we start to-morrow," said Clara.
"I am not thinking of the journey to London," said Mrs. Askerton, "but of the danger and privations of your subsequent progress to the North."
"I shall do very well. I am not afraid that any one will eat me."
"There are so many different ways of eating people! Are there not, Mr. Belton?"
"I don't know about eating, but there are a great many ways of boring people," said he.
"And I should think they will be great at that kind of thing at Aylmer Castle. One never hears of Sir Anthony, but I can fancy Lady Aylmer to be a terrible woman."
"I shall manage to hold my own, I dare say," said Clara.
"I hope you will; I do hope you will," said Mrs. Askerton. "I don't know whether you will be powerful to do so, or whether you will fail; my heart is not absolute; but I do know what will be the result if you are successful."
"It is much more then than I know myself."