Then gradually there fell upon poor Hester’s mind a doubt,—­and, after that, almost a conviction.  Not a doubt as to her husband’s truth!  No suspicion on that score ever troubled her for a moment.  But there came upon her a fear, almost more than a fear, that these terrible enemies would be strong enough to override the truth, and to carry with them both a judge and a jury.  As the summer months ran on, they all became aware that for any purpose of removing the witnesses the money had been paid in vain.  Crinkett was living in all opulence at a hotel at Brighton; and the woman, calling herself Mrs. Caldigate, had taken furnished apartments in London.  Rumour came that she was frequently seen at the theatres, and that she had appeared more than once in an open carriage in the parks.  There was no doubt but that Caldigate’s money had made them very comfortable for the present.  The whole story of the money had been made public, and of course there were various opinions about it.  The prevailing idea was, that an attempt had been made to buy off the first wife, but that the first wife had been clever enough to get the money without having to go.  Caldigate was thought to have been very foolish; on which subject Bollum once expressed himself strongly to a friend.  ‘Clever!’ he said; ’Caldigate clever!  The greatest idiot I ever came across in my life!  I’d made it quite straight for him,—­so that there couldn’t have been a wrinkle.  But he wouldn’t have it.  There are men so soft that one can’t understand ’em.’  To do Bollum justice it should be said that he was most anxious to induce his uncle and the woman to leave the country when they had got the money.

Though very miserable, Hester was very brave.  In the presence of her husband she would never allow herself to seem to doubt.  She would speak of their marriage as a thing so holy that nothing within the power of man could disturb it.  Of course they were man and wife, and of course the truth would at last prevail.  Was not the Lord able, in His own good time, to set all these matters right?  And in discussing the matter with him she would always seem to imply that the Lord’s good time would be the time of the trial.  She would never herself hint to him that there might be a period of separation coming.  Though in secrecy she was preparing for what might befall him, turning over in her woman’s mind how she might best relieve the agony of his jail, she let no sign escape her that she looked forward to such misery.  She let no such sign escape her in her intercourse with him.  But with his father she could speak more freely.  It had, indeed, come to be understood between her and the old Squire, that it would be best that they should discuss the matter openly.  Arrangements must be made for their future life, so that when the blow came they might not be unprepared.  Hester declared that nothing but positive want of shelter should induce her to go back to Chesterton.  ‘They think him to