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He thought he saw that there was a way open to him through the policy of this woman, whom he perceived to have become friendly to him. He saw, or thought that he saw, it all. No day had absolutely been fixed for this journey to Yorkshire; and if Clara were induced to go first to the cottage, and stay there with Mrs Askerton, no such journey might ever be taken.
But such was the case; and when Mr Amedroz once said something about Mrs Askerton in the presence of both Clara and Belton, they both of them shrank from the subject in a manner that made Clara understand that any conversation about the Askertons was to be avoided. On the fourth day Clara saw Mrs Askerton, but then Will Belton's name was not mentioned.
He had once written to her about Mrs Askerton, using very strong language, and threatening her with his mother's full displeasure. At that time Mrs Askerton had simply been her friend. There had been no question then of her taking refuge under that woman's roof.
Mrs Askerton began to talk of the frost, and then went on to abuse Ireland, complaining of the hardship her husband endured in being forced to go thither in winter to look after his tenants. 'What did you mean', said Clara, at last, 'by the sword hanging over your head? 'I think I told you what I meant pretty plainly. If you did not understand me I cannot tell you more plainly.
Had her communication to him been accepted in a different spirit, she might probably have kept her secret from Mrs Askerton till something further had been fixed about her marriage; but she was in want of a few kind words, and pined for some of that encouragement which ladies in love usually wish to receive, at any rate from some one chosen friend.
'I don't think it would have done at all, under all the circumstances, said Mrs Askerton. But in the following spring or early summer they did get into the new house and a very nice house it was, as will, I think, be believed by those who have known Mr William Belton.
'I don't know much about liking anybody, my dear. Nobody likes me, and so why should I trouble myself? 'But, papa, it all amounts to this that somebody has said that the Askertons are not Askertons at all, but ought to be called something else. Now we know that he served as Captain and Major Askerton for seven years in India and in fact it all means nothing.
When the two women were alone together, Clara, of course, scolded her friend for having written to Norfolk without letting it be known that she was doing so scolded her, and declared how vain it was for her to make useless efforts for an unattainable end; but Mrs Askerton always managed to slip out of these reproaches, neither asserting herself to be right, nor owning herself to be wrong.
Mr Wright, the clergyman, called at Belton Castle, and in the course of conversation with Mr Amedroz renewed one of those ill-natured rumours which had before been spread about Mrs Askerton. Clara did not see him, but she heard an account of it all from her father. 'Does it mean, papa, she said, speaking almost with anger, 'that you want me to give up Mrs Askerton?
But the idea of her own hypocrisy was distressing to her, and she rushed at the difficulty with hurried, eager words, resolving that, at any rate, there should be no longer any doubt between them. 'Mrs Askerton, she said, 'I know it all. There is nothing for you to tell. I know what the sword is. 'What is it that you know? 'That you were married long ago to Mr Berdmore.
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