’I don’t see why they should.  Mind I am not saying anything of this for myself.  If I were my sister’s guardian, I should take the trouble to make many inquiries before I either asked you into my house or declined to do so.  I should not give access to you, or to any other gentleman merely because he asked it.’

‘Let them make inquiry.’

’Mrs. Bolton probably thinks that she already knows enough.  What my father may say I cannot even surmise.’

‘Will you tell him?’

‘If you wish it.’

’Tell him also that I will wait upon him at once if he desires it.  He shall know everything about my affairs,—­which indeed require no concealment.  I can settle enough upon her for her comfort.  If she is to have anything of her own, that will be over and above.  As far as I am concerned myself, I ask no question about that.  I think that a man ought to earn enough for himself and for his wife too.  As to religion——­’

‘If I were you, I would leave that alone,’ said the lawyer.

‘Perhaps so.’

‘I will tell my father.  That is all I can say.  Good-bye.’

So they parted; and Caldigate, getting on his horse, rode back to Folking.  Looking back at what he had done that day, he was almost disposed to be contented with it.  The lady’s too evident hostility was, of course, to be deprecated;—­but then he had expected it.  As Robert Bolton had explained to him very clearly, it was almost impossible that he should, at the first, be regarded by her with favourable eyes.  But he thought that the brother had been quite as favourable to him as he could have expected, and the ice was broken.  The Bolton family generally would know what he was about.  Hester would not be told, of course;—­at any rate, not at once.  But the first steps had been taken, and it must be for him now so to press the matter that the ultimate decision should be made to rest in her hands as soon as possible.

‘What did Mr. Bolton say to you?’ asked the squire.

‘I did not see him.’

‘And what did the young lady say?’

‘I did not see her.’

‘Or the mamma?’

‘I did see her, and told her my project.’

‘I should think she would be startled?’

‘She was not very propitious, sir; but that was not to be expected.’

‘She is a poor melancholy half-crazed creature, I take it,’ said the squire; ’at least, that is what I hear.  The girl, I should think, would be glad to get away from such a home.  But I am afraid you will find a good many obstacles.’  After that nothing more was said about the matter at Folking for some days.

But there was a great deal said upon the matter both in Cambridge and at Chesterton.  Robert Bolton found his father at the bank on the same afternoon, and performed his promise.  ‘Did he see your step-mother?’ asked the old man.

’Oh yes; and as far as I can understand, did not receive very much favour at her hands.’