little shooting. They pay some trumpery thirty or forty pounds a year,
and then they seem to think that it's almost the same as though they
owned the property themselves. I've known a man talk of his manor
because he had the shooting of a wood and a small farm round it. They
are generally shop-keepers out of London, gin distillers, or brewers,
or people like that.'

'Why, Mr Belton, I didn't think you could be so furious!

'Can't I? When my back's up, it is up! But it isn't up yet.'

'And I hope it won't be up while you remain in Somersetshire.'

'I won't answer for that. There's Stovey's empty cart standing just
where it stood yesterday; and he promised he'd have it home before
three today. My back will be up with him if he doesn't mind himself.'

It was nearly six o'clock when they got back to the house, and Clara
was surprised to find that she had been out three hours with her
cousin. Certainly it had been very pleasant. The usual companion of her
walks, when she had a companion, was Mrs Askerton; but Mrs Askerton did
not like real walking. She would creep about the grounds for an hour or
so, and even such companionship as that was better to Clara than
absolute solitude; but now she had been carried about the place,
getting over stiles and through gates, and wandering through the
copses, till she was tired and hungry, and excited and happy. 'Oh,
papa,' she said, 'we have had such a walk!'

'I thought we were to have dined at five,' he replied, in a low wailing
voice.