"But she would not have taken it, Will. And had she done so, she would have been very wrong. Now she will be comfortable."
"I wish I could be comfortable," said he.
"If you will only wait—"
"I hate waiting. I do not see what good it will do. Besides, I don't mean to say anything about that,—not to-day, at least. I don't indeed. As for being here and not seeing her, that is out of the question. Of course she would think that I had quarrelled with her, and that I meant to take everything to myself, now that I have the power."
"She won't suspect you of wishing to quarrel with her, Will."
"I should in her place. It is out of the question that I should be here, and not go to her. It would be monstrous. I will wait till they have done lunch, and then I will go up."
It was at last decided that he should walk up to the cottage, call upon Colonel Askerton, and ask to see Clara in the Colonel's presence. It was thought that he could make his statement about the money better before a third person who could be regarded as Clara's friend, than could possibly be done between themselves. He did, therefore, walk across to the cottage, and was shown into Colonel Askerton's study.
"There he is," Mrs. Askerton said, as soon as she heard the sound of the bell. "I knew that he would come at once."
During the whole morning Mrs. Askerton had been insisting that Belton would make his appearance on that very day,—the day of his arrival at Belton, and Clara had been asserting that he would not do so.
"Why should he come?" Clara had said.