When the father and the three sons were in the dining-room together, after the six or seven ladies had left them, the propriety of allowing John Caldigate to make Hester’s acquaintance was fully discussed.  ’I would not for the world interfere,’ said Robert, ’if I did not think it unfair to the dear girl that she should be shut up there altogether.’

‘Do you suppose that the young man is in earnest?’ asked Daniel.

As to this they all agreed that there could be no doubt.  He was, too, an old family friend, well-to-do in the world, able to make proper settlements, and not at all greedy as to a fortune with his wife.  Even Daniel Bolton thought that the young man should have a chance,—­by saying which he was supposed to declare that the question ought to be left to the arbitrament of the young lady.  The old banker was unhappy and ill at ease.  He could not reconcile himself at once to so great a change.  Though he felt that the excessive fears of his wife, if indulged, would be prejudicial to their girl, still he did not wish to thrust her out into the world all at once.  Could there not be some middle course?  Could there not be a day named, some four years hence, at which she might be allowed to begin to judge for herself?  But his three sons were against him, and he could not resist their joint influence.  It was therefore absolutely decided that steps should be taken for enabling John Caldigate to meet Hester at Robert Bolton’s house.

‘I suppose it will end in a marriage,’ William Bolton said to his brother Robert when they were alone.

’Of course it will.  She is the dearest creature in the world;—­so good to her mother; but no fool, and quite aware that the kind of restraint to which she has been subjected is an injustice.  Of course she will be gratified when a man like that tells her that he loves her.  He is a good-looking fellow, with a fine spirit and plenty of means.  How on earth can she do better?’

‘But Mrs. B.?’ said William, who would sometimes thus disrespectfully allude to his step-mother.

‘Mrs. B. will do all she can to prevent it,’ said Robert; ’but I think we shall find that Hester has a will of her own.’

On the following day John Caldigate called at the bank, where the banker had a small wainscoted back-parlour appropriated to himself.  He had already promised that he would see the young man, and Caldigate was shown into the little room.  He soon told his story, and was soon clever enough to perceive that the telling of his story was at any rate permitted.  The old father did not receive him with astonishment and displeasure combined, as the young mother had done.  Of course he made difficulties, and spoke of the thing as being beyond the bounds of probability.  But objection no stronger than that may be taken as amounting almost to encouragement in such circumstances.  And he paid evident attention to all that Caldigate said about his own pecuniary affairs,—­going so far as to say that he was not in a condition to declare whether he would give his daughter any fortune at all on her marriage.