had been the chance against his being Squire of Folking when he started with Dick Shand to look for Australian gold!  And how little had been the chance of his calling Hester Bolton his wife when he was pledging his word to Mrs. Smith on board the Goldfinder!  But now it had all come round to him just as he would have had it.  There was his wife up-stairs in the big bed-room with her baby,—­the wife as to whom he had made that romantic resolution when he had hardly spoken to her; and there had been the bells ringing and the tenants congratulating him, and everything had been pleasant.  His father who had so scorned him,—­who in the days of Davis and Newmarket had been so well justified in scorning him,—­was now his closest friend.  Thinking of all this, he told himself that he had certainly received better things than he had deserved.

A day or two after the birth of the baby Mrs. Robert came out to see the new prodigy, and on the following day Mrs. Daniel.  Mrs. Robert was, of course, very friendly and disposed to be in all respects a good sister-in-law.  Hester’s great grief was in regard to her mother.  She was steadfast enough in her resolution to stand in all respects by her husband if there must be a separation,—­but the idea of the separation robbed her of much of her happiness.  Mrs. Robert was aware that a great effort was being made with Mrs. Bolton.  The young squire’s respectability was so great, and his conduct so good, that not only the Boltons themselves, but neighbours around who knew aught of the Bolton affairs, were loud in denouncing the woman for turning up her nose at such a son-in-law.  The great object was to induce her to say that she would allow Caldigate to enter the house at Chesterton.  ’You know I never see her now,’ said Mrs. Robert; ’I’m too much of a sinner to think of entering the gates.’

‘Do not laugh at her, Margaret,’ said Hester.

’I do not mean to laugh at her.  It is simply the truth.  Robert and I have made up our minds that it is better for us all that I should not put myself in her way.’

‘Think how different it must be for me!’

’Of course it is.  It is dreadful to think that she should be so—­prejudiced.  But what can I do, dear?  If they will go on persevering, she will, of course, have to give way.’  The ‘they’ spoken of were the Daniels, and old Mr. Bolton himself, and latterly the Nicholases, all of whom were of opinion that the separation of the mother from her daughter was very dreadful, especially when it came to be understood that the squire of Folking went regularly to his parish church.

On the next day Mrs. Daniel came out; and though she was much less liked by Hester than her younger sister-in-law, she brought more comfortable tidings.  She had been at the Grange a day or two before, and Mrs. Bolton had almost consented to say that she would see John Caldigate.  ’You shouldn’t be in a hurry, you know, my dear,’ said Mrs. Daniel.