he had pondered over it often, and was aware that he was very fond of
Clara. He was, in truth, as much in love with her as it was in his
nature to be in love. He was not a man to break his heart for a girl
nor even to make a strong fight for a wife, as Belton was prepared to
do. If refused once, he might probably ask again having some idea that
a first refusal was not always intended to mean much and he might
possibly make a third attempt, prompted by some further calculation of
the same nature. But it might be doubted whether, on the first, second,
or third occasion, he would throw much passion into his words; and
those who knew him well would hardly expect to see him die of a broken
heart, should he ultimately be unsuccessful.

When he had first thought of marrying Miss Amedroz he had imagined that
she would have shared with him his aunt's property, and indeed such had
been his belief up to the days of the last illness of Mrs Winterfield.
The match therefore had recommended itself to him as being prudent as
well as pleasant; and though his aunt had never hitherto pressed the
matter upon him, he had understood what her wishes were. When she first
told him, three or four days before her death, that her property was
left altogether to him, and then, on hearing how totally her niece was
without hope of provision from her father, had expressed her desire to
give a sum of money to Clara, she had spoken plainly of her desire but
she had not on that occasion asked him for any promise. But afterwards,
when she knew that she was dying, she had questioned him as to his own
feelings, and he, in his anxiety to gratify her in her last wishes, had
given her the promise which she was so anxious to hear. He made no
difficulty in doing so. It was his own wish as well as hers. In a money
point of view he might no doubt now do better; but then money was not
everything. He was very fond of Clara, and felt that if she would
accept him he would be proud of his wife. She was well born and well