bishop beyond the see in which his own parish was situated. But Captain
Aylmer knew everybody, and had read everything, and understood, as
though by instinct, all the movements of the world in which he lived.

But what mattered any such comparison? Even though she should be able
to prove to herself beyond the shadow of a doubt that her cousin Will
was of the two the fitter to be loved the one more worthy of her heart
no such proof could alter her position. Love does not go by worth. She
did not love her cousin as she must love any man to whom she could give
her hand and, alas! she did love that other man.

On this night I doubt whether Belton did slumber with that solidity of
repose which was usual to him. At any rate, before he came down in the
morning he had found time for sufficient thought, and had brought
himself to a resolution. He would not give up the battle as lost. To
his thinking there was something weak and almost mean in abandoning any
project which he had set before himself. He had been awkward, and he
exaggerated to himself his own awkwardness. He had been hasty, and had
gone about his task with inconsiderate precipitancy. It might be that
he had thus destroyed all his chance of success. But, as he said to
himself, 'he would never say die, as long as there was a puff of breath
left in him.' He would not mope, and hang down his head, and wear the
willow. Such a state of things would ill suit either the roughness or
the readiness of his life. No! He would bear Like a man the
disappointment which had on this occasion befallen him, and would
return at Christmas and once more try his fortune.

At breakfast, therefore, the cloud had passed from his brow. When he
came in he found Clara alone in the room, and he simply shook hands
with her after his ordinary fashion. He said nothing of yesterday, and