Though he had never hitherto resolved that he would do so--though he had never till then brought himself absolutely to determine that he would take so important a step--he had pondered over it often, and was aware that he was very fond of Clara.

He was, in truth, as much in love with her as it was in his nature to be in love.

He was not a man to break his heart for a girl;--nor even to make a strong fight for a wife, as Belton was prepared to do.

If refused once, he might probably ask again,--having some idea that a first refusal was not always intended to mean much,--and he might possibly make a third attempt, prompted by some further calculation of the same nature.

But it might be doubted whether, on the first, second, or third occasion, he would throw much passion into his words; and those who knew him well would hardly expect to see him die of a broken heart, should he ultimately be unsuccessful.
When he had first thought of marrying Miss Amedroz he had imagined that she would have shared with him his aunt's property, and indeed such had been his belief up to the days of the last illness of Mrs.
Winterfield.