But that this was not a time for such an exercise he would have endeavoured to expose the prejudice of the lady.  As it was he was very gentle.  ‘William is a man who understands his duty well,’ he said.

’Many do that, but few act up to their understanding she rejoined.

’I think, sir, I had better read his letter to you.  It has been written with that intention, and I am bound to let you know the contents.  Perhaps Mrs. Bolton will let me go to the end so that we may discuss it afterwards.’

But Mrs. Bolton would not let him go to the end.  He had not probably expected such forbearance.  At every point as to the evidence she interrupted him, striving to show that the arguments used were of no real weight.  She was altogether irrational, but still she argued her case well.  She withered Bagwax and Dick with her scorn; she ridiculed the quarrels of the male and female witnesses; she reviled the Secretary of State, and declared it to be a shame that the Queen should have no better advisers.  But when William Bolton spoke of Hester’s happiness, and of the concessions which should be made to secure that, she burst out into eloquence.  What did he know of her happiness?  Was it not manifest that he was alluding to this world without a thought of the next?  ’Not a reflection as to her soul’s welfare has once come across his mind,’ she said;—­’not an idea as to the sin with which her soul would be laden were she to continue to live with the man when knowing that he was not her husband.’

‘She would know nothing of the kind,’ said the attorney.

“She ought to know it,” said Mrs. Bolton, again begging the whole question.

But he persevered, as he had resolved to do when he left his house upon this difficult mission.  ‘I am sure my father will acknowledge,’ he said, ’that however strong our own feelings have been, we should bow to the conviction of others who—­’

But he was promulgating a doctrine which her conscience required her to stop at once.  ’The conviction of others shall never have weight with me when the welfare of my eternal soul is at stake.’

’I am speaking of those who have had better means of getting at the truth than have come within our reach.  The Secretary of State can have no bias of his own in the matter.’

’He is, I fear, a godless man, living and dealing with the godless.  Did I not hear the other day that the great Ministers of State will not even give a moment to attend to the short meaningless prayers which are read in the House of Commons?’

‘No one,’ continued Robert Bolton, trying to get away from sentiment into real argument,—­’no one can have been more intent on separating them than William was when he thought that the evidence was against him.  Now he thinks the evidence in his favour.  I know no man whose head is clearer than my brother’s.  I am not very fond of John Caldigate.’

‘Nor am I,’ said the woman with an energy which betrayed much of her true feeling.