Anthony Trollope: The Belton Estate

5. CHAPTER V: NOT SAFE AGAINST LOVE-MAKING (continued)

She now looked at him; but still she did not believe it. It could not be that after all her boastings she should have made so gross a blunder. 'I hope you do love me,' she said; 'indeed, you are bound to do so, for you promised that you would be my brother.'

'But that will not satisfy me now, Clara. Clara, I want to be your husband.'

'Will!' she exclaimed.

'Now you know it all; and if I have been too sudden, I must beg your pardon.'

'Oh, Will, forget that you have said this. Do not go on until everything must be over between us.'

'Why should anything be over between us? Why should it be wrong in me to love you?'

'What will papa say?'

'Mr Amedroz knows all about it already, and has given me his consent. I asked him directly I had made up my own mind, and he told me that I might go to you.'

'You have asked papa? Oh dear, oh dear, what am I to do?'

'Am I so odious to you then?' As he said this he got up from his seat and stood before her. He was a tall, well-built, handsome man, and he could assume a look and mien that were almost noble when he was moved as he was moved now.

'Odious! Do you not know that I have loved you as my cousin that I have already learned to trust you as though you were really my brother? But this breaks it all.'

'You cannot love me then as my wife?'