"It's a long time ago, and there can't be any harm in mentioning it now. It was the man she was going to marry, and whom she did marry." "What;--the Mr. Berdmore?" "Yes; he was often in that way. And there was a look about Mrs. Askerton just now so like the look of that Miss Vigo then, that I cannot get rid of the idea." "They can't be the same, as she was certainly a Miss Oliphant. And you hear, too, what she says." "Yes;--I heard what she said. You have known her long?" "These two years." "And intimately?" "Very intimately. She is our only neighbour; and her being here has certainly been a great comfort to me. It is sad not having some woman near one that one can speak to;--and then, I really do like her very much." "No doubt it's all right." "Yes; it's all right," said Clara. After that there was nothing more said about Mrs. Askerton, and Belton began his work. They had gone from the cottage, across the park, away from the house, up to a high rock which stood boldly out of the ground, from whence could be seen the sea on one side, and on the other a far tract of country almost away to the moors. And when they reached this spot they seated themselves. "There," said Clara, "I consider this to be the prettiest spot in England." "I haven't seen all England," said Belton. "Don't be so matter-of-fact, Will. I say it's the prettiest in England, and you can't contradict me." "And I say you're the prettiest girl in England, and you can't contradict me." This annoyed Clara, and almost made her feel that her paragon of a cousin was not quite so perfect as she had represented him to be. "I see," she said, "that if I talk nonsense I'm to be punished." "Is it a punishment to you to know that I think you very handsome?" he said, turning round and looking full into her face. "It is disagreeable to me--very, to have any such subject talked about at all. What would you think if I began to pay you foolish personal compliments?" "What I say isn't foolish; and there's a great difference. Clara, I love you better than all the world put together." She now looked at him; but still she did not believe it. It could not be that after all her boastings she should have made so gross a blunder. "I hope you do love me," she said; "indeed, you are bound to do so, for you promised that you would be my brother." "But that will not satisfy me now, Clara. Clara, I want to be your husband." "Will!" she exclaimed. "Now you know it all; and if I have been too sudden, I must beg your pardon." "Oh, Will, forget that you have said this. Do not go on until everything must be over between us." "Why should anything be over between us? Why should it be wrong in me to love you?" "What will papa say?" "Mr. Amedroz knows all about it already, and has given me his consent. I asked him directly I had made up my own mind, and he told me that I might go to you." "You have asked papa? Oh dear, oh dear, what am I to do?"