He was blunt in his bearing, saying things which her father would have called indelicate and heartless, as though they gave him no effort, and placing himself at once almost in a position of ascendency.

This Clara had not intended.

She had thought that her farmer cousin, in spite of the superiority of his prospects as heir to the property, would have acceded to her little hints with silent acquiescence; but instead of this he seemed prepared to take upon himself the chief part in the play that was to be acted between them.
"Shall it be so ?" he said, still holding her hand.
"You are very kind." "I will be more than kind; I will love you dearly if you will let me.
You don't suppose that I have looked you up here for nothing.

Blood is thicker than water, and you have nobody now so near to you as I am.

I don't see why you should be so poor, as the debts have been paid." "Papa has had to borrow money on his life interest in the place." "That's the mischief! Never mind.