considered that he had better not make his proposal quite at once. He
was to remain eight days at Belton, and as eight days was not a long
period of acquaintance, he had reflected that it might be well for him
to lay what foundation for love it might be in his power to construct
during his present sojourn, and then return and complete the work
before Christmas. But as he was shaving himself, the habitual
impatience of his nature predominated, and he became disposed to think
that delay would be useless, and might perhaps be dangerous. It might
be possible that Clara would be unable to give him a decisive answer so
quickly as to enable him to return home an accepted lover; but if such
doubt were left, such doubt would give him an excuse for a speedy
return to Belton. He did not omit to tell himself that very probably he
might not succeed at all. He was a man not at all apt to feel assurance
that he could carry all before him in love. But in this matter, as in
all others which required from him any personal effort, he prepared
himself to do his best, leaving the consequences to follow as they
might. When he threw his seed corn into the earth with all such due
appliances of agricultural skill and industry as his capital and
experience enabled him to use, he did his part towards the production
of next year's crop; and after that he must leave it to a higher Power
to give to him, or to withhold from him, the reward of his labour. He
had found that, as a rule, the reward had been given when the labour
had been honest; and he was now prepared to follow the same plan, with
the same hopes, in this matter of his love-making.

After much consideration very much consideration, a consideration which
took him the whole time that he was brushing his hair and washing his
teeth he resolved that he would, in the first instance, speak to Mr
Amedroz. Not that he intended that the father should win the daughter
for him. He had an idea that he would like to do that work for himself.