Stovey, and the transaction was complete. Mr Amedroz sat in his chair
bewildered, dismayed and, as he himself declared shocked, quite
shocked, at the precipitancy of the young man. It might be for the
best. He didn't know. He didn't feel at all sure. But such hurrying in
such a matter was, under all the circumstances of the family, to say
the least of it, very indelicate. He was angry with himself for having
yielded, and angry with Clara for having allowed him to do so. 'It
doesn't signify much,' he said, at last. 'Of course he'll have it all
to himself before long.'

'But, papa, it really seems to be a much better arrangement for you.
You'll get more money'

'Money is not everything, my dear.'

'But you'd sooner have Mr Belton, our own cousin, about the place, than
Mr Stovey.'

'I don't know. We shall see. The thing is done now, and there is no use
in complaining. I must say he hasn't shown a great deal of delicacy.'

On that afternoon Belton asked Clara to go out with him, and walk round
the place. He had been again about the grounds, and had made plans, and
counted up capabilities, and calculated his profit and losses. 'If you
don't dislike scrambling about,' said he, 'I'll show you everything
that I intend to do.'

'But I can't have any changes made, Mr Belton,' said Mr Amedroz, with
some affectation of dignity in his manner. 'I won't have the fences
moved, or anything of that kind.'