Perhaps only one of those concerned much sympathised with Ironsyde in his painful ordeal.  Those who did not openly assert that he was reaping what he had sown, were indifferent.  Some, like Mr. Motyer, held the incident a joke; one only possessed imagination sufficient to guess what these public events must mean to the father of Abel.  Indeed, Estelle certainly suffered more for Raymond than he suffered for himself.  She pictured poignantly his secret thoughts and sorrows at this challenge, and she could guess what it must be to have a child who hated you.  In her maiden mind, however, the man’s emotions were exaggerated, and she made the mistake of supposing that this grievous thing must be dominating Raymond’s existence, instead of merely vexing it.  In truth he suffered, but he was juster than Estelle, and, looking back, measured his liabilities pretty accurately.  He had none but himself to thank for these inconveniences, and when he weighed them against the alternative of marriage with Sabina, he counted them as bearable.  Abel tried him sorely, but he did not try him as permanent union with Abel’s mother must have tried him.  Since he had renewed speech with her, his conviction was increased that supreme disaster must have followed marriage.  Moreover, there began to rise a first glimmer of the new situation already indicated.  It had grown gradually and developed more intensely during his days of enforced idleness in his aunt’s house.  From that time, at any rate, he marked the change and saw his old regard and respect for Estelle wakening into something greater.  Her sympathy quickened the new sentiments.  He thought she was saner over Abel than anybody, for she never became sentimental, or pretended that nothing had happened which might not have been predicted.  Her support was both human and practical.  It satisfied him and showed him her good sense.

Miss Ironsyde had often reminded her nephew that he was the last of his line, and urged him to take a wife and found a family.  That Raymond should marry seemed desirable to her; but she had not considered Estelle as a wife for him.  Had she done so, Jenny must have feared the girl too young and too doubtful in opinions to promise complete success and safety for the master of the Mill.  He would marry a mature woman and a steadfast Christian—­so hoped Miss Ironsyde then.

There came a day when Raymond called on Mr. Churchouse.  Business brought him and first he discussed the matter of an advertisement.

“In these days,” he said, “the competition grows keener than ever.  And I rather revel in it—­as I do in the east wind.  It’s not pleasant at the time, but, if you’re healthy, it’s a tonic.”

“And if you’re not, it finds the weak places,” added Mr. Churchouse.  “No man over sixty has much good to say of the east wind.”