Mary looked at him with loving, sorrowing eyes, but she said no more.  She loved him so well that she would have given her right hand to get for him what he wanted but she sorrowed to think that he should want such a thing so sorely.  Immediately after his dinner, he took his hat and went out without saying a word further, and made his way once more across to the gate of the cottage.  It was a lovely summer evening, at that period of the year in which our summer evenings just begin, when the air is sweeter and the flowers more fragrant, and the forms of the foliage more lovely than at any other time. it was now eight o’clock, but it was hardly as yet evening; none at least of the gloom of evening had come, though the sun was low in the heavens.  At the cottage they were all sitting out on the lawn; and as Belton came near he was seen by them, and he saw them.

‘I told you so,’ said Mrs Askerton, to Clara, in a whisper.

‘He is not coming in,’ Clara answered.  ‘He is going on.’

But when he had come nearer, Colonel Askerton called to him over the garden paling, and asked him to join them.  He was now standing within ten or fifteen yards of them, though the fence divided them.  ’I have come to ask my Cousin Clara to take a walk with me,’ he said.  ’She can be back by your tea time.’  He made his request very placidly, and did not in any way look like a lover.

‘I am sure she will be glad to go,’ said Mrs Askerton.  But Clara said nothing.

‘Do take a turn with me, if you are not tired,’ said he.

‘She has not been out all day, and cannot be tired,’ said Mrs Askerton, who had now walked up to the paling.  ’Clara, get your hat.  But, Mr Belton, what have I done that I am to be treated in this way?  Perhaps you don’t remember that you have not spoken to me since your arrival.’

‘Upon my word, I beg your pardon,’ said he, endeavouring to stretch his hand across the bushes.

‘I forgot I didn’t see you this morning.’

’I suppose I musn’t be angry, as this is your day of taking possession; but it is exactly on such days as this that one likes to be remembered.’

’I didn’t mean to forget you, Mrs Askerton; I didn’t, indeed.  And as for the special day, that’s all bosh, you know.  I haven’t taken particular possession of anything that I know of.’

‘I hope you will, Mr Belton, before the day is over,’ said she.  Clara had at length arisen, and had gone into the house to fetch her hat.  She had not spoken a word, and even yet her cousin did not know whether she was coming.  ’I hope you will take possession of a great deal that is very valuable.  Clara has gone to get her hat.’

‘Do you think she means to walk?’

’I think she does, Mr Belton.  And there she is at the door.  Mind you bring her back to tea.’