'I have no power to turn anybody out or in,' said he. 'I've got nothing
to do with it.'

Clara, perceiving that matters were not going quite pleasantly between
her old and new friend, thought it best to take her departure. Belton,
as he went, lifted his hat from his head, and Clara could not keep
herself from thinking that he was not only very handsome, but that he
looked very much like a gentleman, in spite of his occupation as a
farmer.

'Bye-bye, Clara,' said Mrs Askerton; 'come down and see me tomorrow,
there's a dear. Don't forget what a dull life I have of it.' Clara said
that she would come. And I shall be so happy to see Mr Belton if he
will call before he leaves you.' At this Belton again raised his hat
from his head, and muttered some word or two of civility. But this, his
latter muttering, was different from the first, for he had altogether
regained his presence of mind.

'You didn't seem to get on very well with my friend,' said Clara,
laughing, as soon as they had turned away from the cottage.

'Well, no that is to say, not particularly well or particularly badly.
At first I took her for somebody else I knew slightly ever so long ago,
and I was thinking of that other person at the time.'

'And what was the other person's name?'

'I can't even remember that at the present moment.'