John had deferred his journey to the last moment, in order to stand godfather to Nancy’s healthy firstborn.  John Lambert—­honest man and proud father—­had honoured the event with a dinner, and very nearly wrecked his own domestic peace by sending out the invitations in his own hand and including Mr. and Mrs. Wright.  For weeks after, Nancy shuddered to think what might have happened if Hetty and her father had come face to face at the ceremony or the feast.  By good luck—­or rather by using her common sense and divining the mistake—­Hetty refused.  Her husband, however, insisted on attending, and she let him go.  With his presence the Rector could not decently quarrel.

“But look here,” said he, “I am getting tired of the line the old man takes.  It wasn’t in our bond:  he waited to spring it on me after the wedding.  If I can overlook things, he should be able to, and I’ve a mind to tell him so.”  He urged her to come.  But Hetty pleaded that she could not; it was now past the middle of September, and her baby would be born early in the new year.  “Well, well,” he grumbled, “but ’tis hard to have married a lady, and a beauty to boot, and never a chance to show her.”  The speech was gracious after his fashion, as well as honest:  but she shivered inwardly.  For as time wore on, she perceived this desire growing in him, to take her abroad and display her with pride.  Failing this, he had once or twice brought his own cronies home, to sit and smoke with him while he watched their uneasy admiration and enjoyed the tribute.  She blamed herself that she had not been more genial on those occasions; but in truth she dreaded them horribly.  By sheer force of will she had managed hitherto, and with fair success, to view her husband as a good honest man, and overlook his defects of breeding.  In her happiest moods she almost believed in the colours with which (poor soul, how eagerly!) she decked him.  But she could not extend the illusion to his friends.  “You shall show him off,” she pleaded, meaning the unborn babe.  “We will show him off together.”  But her face was white.

So William Wright had gone alone to the christening feast, and there John Wesley had met him for the first time, and talked with him, and afterwards walked home full of thought.  For, in truth, Hetty’s husband had drunk more of John Lambert’s wine than agreed with him, and had asserted himself huskily, if not aggressively, under the cold eye of Mr. Wesley senior.  John, as godfather, had been called upon for a speech, and his brother-in-law’s “Hear, hear” had been so vociferous that while his kinsfolk stole glances at one another as who should say, “But what can one expect?” the Rector put out a hand with grim mock apprehension and felt the leaded window casements.  “I’ll mend all I break, and for nothing,” shouted Mr. Wright heartily:  and amid a scandalised silence Charles exploded in merry laughter, and saved the situation.