My back will be up with him if he doesn't mind himself." It was nearly six o'clock when they got back to the house, and Clara was surprised to find that she had been out three hours with her cousin.

Certainly it had been very pleasant.

The usual companion of her walks, when she had a companion, was Mrs.Askerton; but Mrs.
Askerton did not like real walking.

She would creep about the grounds for an hour or so, and even such companionship as that was better to Clara than absolute solitude; but now she had been carried about the place, getting over stiles and through gates, and wandering through the copses, till she was tired and hungry, and excited and happy.
"Oh, papa," she said, "we have had such a walk!" "I thought we were to have dined at five," he replied, in a low wailing voice.
"No, papa, indeed,--indeed you said six." "That was for yesterday." "You said we were to make it six while Mr.Belton was here." "Very well;--if it must be, I suppose it must be." "You don't mean on my account," said Will.

"I'll undertake to eat my dinner, sir, at any hour that you'll undertake to give it me.