‘What ideas?’

’Well,—­at any rate, with ideas of having my own way,—­I cannot submit myself to this plan of yours, which, though it would have given me so much——­’

‘It would give you everything, sir.’

’Granted!  But I cannot take everything.  It is better that we should understand each other, so that my cousin, for whom I have the most sincere regard, should not be annoyed.’

‘Much you care!’

‘What shall I say?’

’It signifies nothing what you say.  You are a false man.  You have inveigled your cousin’s affections, and now you say that you can do nothing for her.  This comes from the sort of society you have kept out at Botany Bay!  I suppose a man’s word there is worth nothing, and that the women are of such a kind they don’t mind it.  It is not the way with gentlemen here in England; let me tell you that!’ Then she stalked out of the room, leaving him either to go to bed, or join the smokers or to sit still and repent at his leisure, as he might please.  His mind, however, was chiefly occupied for the next half-hour with thinking whether it would be possible for him to escape from Babington on the following morning.

Before the morning he had resolved that, let the torment of the day be what it might, he would bear it,—­unless by chance he might be turned out of the house.  But no tragedy such as that came to relieve him.  Aunt Polly gave him his tea at breakfast with a sternly forbidding look,—­and Julia was as cherry-cheeked as ever, though very silent.  The killing of calves was over, and he was left to do what he pleased during the whole day.  One spark of comfort came to him.  ‘John, my boy,’ said his uncle in a whisper, ‘what’s the matter between you and Madame?’ Mr. Babington would sometimes call his wife Madame when he was half inclined to laugh at her.  Caldigate of course declared that there was nothing wrong.  The squire shook his head and went away.  But from this it appeared to Caldigate that the young lady’s father was not one of the conspirators,—­by ascertaining which his mind was somewhat relieved.

On the next morning the fly came for him, and he went away without any kisses.  Upon the whole he was contented with both his visits, and was inclined to assure himself that a man has only to look a difficulty in the face, and that the difficulty will be difficult no longer.

Chapter XVII

Again at Puritan Grange

As Caldigate travelled home to Folking he turned many things in his mind.  In the first place he had escaped, and that to him was a matter of self-congratulation.  He had declared his purpose in reference to his cousin Julia very clearly;—­and though he had done so he had not quarrelled utterly with the family.  As far as the young lady’s father was concerned or her brothers, there had been no quarrel at all.  The ill-will against him was confined to the women.