'They have been very good tenants, papa.'

'You needn't tell me that, Clara, and remind me about the shooting when
you know how unhappy it makes me.'

After this Clara said nothing more, and simply determined that Mr
Wright and his gossip should have no effect upon her intimacy with Mrs
Askerton. But not the less did she continue to remember what her cousin
had said about Miss Vigo.

And she had been ruffled a second time by certain observations which
Mrs Askerton made to her respecting her cousin or rather by little
words which were dropped on various occasions. It was very clear that
Mrs Askerton did not like Mr Belton, and that she wished to prejudice
Clara against him. 'It's a pity he shouldn't be a lover of yours,' the
lady said, 'because it would be such a fine instance of Beauty and the
Beast.' It will of course be understood that Mrs Askerton had never
been told of the offer that had been made.

'You don't mean to say that he's not a handsome man,' said Clara.

'I never observe whether a man is handsome or not; but I can see very
well whether he knows what to do with his arms and legs, or whether he
has the proper use of his voice before ladies.' Clara remembered a word
or two spoken by her cousin to herself, in speaking which he had seemed
to have a very proper use of his voice. 'I know when a man is at ease
like a gentleman, and when he is awkward like a'

'Like a what?' said Clara. 'Finish what you've got to say.'