She went on a Monday with an understanding that she was to remain there till Wednesday.  Mrs. Bolton almost wished that a shorter visit had been arranged in order that she might at once commence her hostile operations without any intermediate and hypocritical pretences.  She had planned her campaign thoroughly in her own mind, and had taken the cook into her confidence, the cook being the oldest and most religious servant in the house.  When the day of departure should have come the cook was to lock the doors, and the gardener was to close the little gate at the bottom of the garden; and the bonnet and other things were to be removed, and then the mother would declare her purpose.  But in the meantime allusions to that intended return to Folking must be accepted, and listened to with false assent.  It was very grievous, but so it was arranged.  As soon as Hester was in the house the mother felt how much better it would have been to declare to her daughter at once that she was a prisoner;—­but it was then too late to alter their proposed plans.

It very nearly came to pass that Hester left her mother on the morning of her arrival.  They had both determined to be cautious, reticent, and forbearing but the difference between them was so vital that reticence was impossible.  At first there was a profusion of natural tears, and a profusion of embraces Each clung to the other for a while as though some feeling might be satisfied by mere contact; and then the woe of the thing, the woe of it, was acknowledged on both sides!  They could agree that the wickedness of the wicked was very wicked.  Wherever might lie the sin of fraud and falsehood, the unmerited misfortunes of poor Hester were palpable enough.  They could weep together over the wrongs inflicted on that darling baby.  But by degrees it was impossible to abstain from alluding to the cause of their sorrow;—­and such allusion became absolutely necessary when an attempt was made to persuade Hester to remain at her old home with her own consent.  This was done by her father on the evening of her arrival, in compliance with the plan that had been arranged.  ‘No, papa, no; I cannot do that,’ she said, with a tone of angry determination.

‘It is your duty, Hester.  All your friends will tell you so.’

‘My duty is to my husband,’ she said, ’and in such a matter I can allow myself to listen to no other friend.’  She was so firm and fixed in this that he did not even dare to go on with his expostulation.

But afterwards, when they were upstairs together, Mrs. Bolton spoke out more at length and with more energy.  ‘Mamma, it is of no use,’ said Hester.

‘It ought to be of use.  Do you know the position in which you are?’

‘Very well.  I am my husband’s wife.’

’If it be so, well.  But if it be not so, and if you remain with him while there is a doubt upon the matter, then you are his mistress.’

‘If I am not his wife, then I will be his mistress,’ said Hester, standing up and looking as she spoke much as her mother would look in her most determined moments.