But no one could pick a hole in him although many attempts to pick holes were made.  The question of his money was put quite at rest by the transference of all his securities, balances, and documents to the Boltons’ bank, and the L60,000 for Polyeuka was accepted, so that there was no longer any need that he should go again to the colony.  This was sweet news to Hester when she first heard it;—­for it had come to pass that it had been agreed that the marriage should be postponed till his return, that having been the one concession made to Mrs. Bolton.  There had been many arguments about it;—­but Hester at last told him that she had promised so much to her mother and that she would of course keep her promise.  Then the arrangement took such a form that the journey was not necessary,—­or perhaps the objection to the journey became so strong in Caldigate’s mind that he determined to dispense with it at any price.  And thus, very greatly to the dismay of Mrs. Bolton, suddenly there came to be no reason why they should not be married almost at once.

But there was an attempt made at the picking of holes,—­or rather many attempts.  It would be unfair to say that this was carried on by Mrs. Bolton herself;—­but she was always ready to listen to what evil things were said to her.  Mrs. Nicholas, in her horror at the general wickedness of the Caldigates almost reconciled herself to her step-mother, and even Mrs. Daniel began to fear that a rash thing was being done.  In the first place there was the old story of Davis and Newmarket.  Robert Bolton, who had necessarily become the advocate and defender of our hero generally, did not care much for Davis and Newmarket.  All young men sow their wild oats.  Of course he had been extravagant.  Since his extravagance he had shown himself to be an industrious, sensible, steady member of society;—­and there was the money that he had earned!  What young man had earned more in a shorter time, or had ever been more prudent in keeping it?  Davis and Newmarket were easily answered by a reference to the bank account.  Did he ever go to Newmarket now, though he was living so close to it?  On that matter Robert Bolton was very strong.

But Mrs. Nicholas had found out that Caldigate had spent certainly two Sundays running at Folking without going to church at all; and, as far as she could learn, he was altogether indifferent about public worship.  Mrs. Bolton, who could never bring herself to treat him as a son-in-law, but who was still obliged to receive him, taxed him to his face with his paganism.  ‘Have you no religion, Mr. Caldigate?’ He assured her that he had, and fell into a long discussion in which he thoroughly confused her, though he by no means convinced her that he was what he ought to be.  But he went with her to church twice on one Sunday, and showed her that he was perfectly familiar with the ways of the place.