Nevertheless, she congratulated herself in that she felt satisfied that he was safe against love-making! Might it be possible that that pressing of hands at Taunton had been so tender, and those last words spoken with Captain Aylmer so soft, that on his account she felt delighted to think that her cousin was warranted not to make love?
And what did Will Belton think about his cousin, insured as he was thus supposed to be against the dangers of love?
He, also, lay awake for awhile that night, thinking over this new friendship.

Or rather he thought of it walking about his room, and looking out at the bright harvest moon;--for with him to be in bed was to be asleep.
He sat himself down, and he walked about, and he leaned out of the window into the cool night air; and he made some comparisons in his mind, and certain calculations; and he thought of his present home, and of his sister, and of his future prospects as they were concerned with the old place at which he was now staying; and he portrayed to himself, in his mind, Clara's head and face and figure and feet;--and he resolved that she should be his wife.

He had never seen a girl who seemed to suit him so well.

Though he had only been with her for a day, he swore to himself that he knew he could love her.

Nay;--he swore to himself that he did love her.