to her?  They could know nothing of her nature.  They could not understand the sort of combat she would carry on if an attempt were made to take from her her liberty,—­an attempt made by those who had by law no right to control her!  When once she had learned what was being done she would not condescend to leave her room till the carriage should have come.  That that would come punctually at twelve she was sure.  Then she would go down without her bonnet and without her boots, and see whether any one would dare to stand in her way, as with her baby in her arms she would attempt to walk forth through the front door.

But it had not occurred to her that other steps might be taken.  Just before twelve the gardener stationed himself on the road before the house,—­a road which was half lane and half street, belonging to the suburban village of Chesterton,—­and there awaited the carriage at a spot some yards away from the gate.  It was well that he was early, because Richard was there a few minutes before the time appointed.  ’She ain’t a-going back to-day,’ said the gardener, laying his hands gently on the horse’s back.

‘Who ain’t not a-going back?’ asked the coachman.

‘Miss Hester ain’t.’

‘Mrs. John ain’t a-going home?’

’No;—­I was to come out and tell you, as master don’t like wheels on the gravel if it can be helped.  We ain’t got none of our own.’

‘Missus ain’t a-going home?  Why, master expects her for certain!’

‘I was to say she ain’t a-going to-day.’

The man who was driving passed the reins into his whip-hand, and raising his hat, began to scratch his head with the other.  He knew at once that there was something wrong,—­that this prolonged staying away from home was not merely a pleasantly lengthened visit.  His master had been very urgent with him as to punctuality, and was evidently intent upon the return of his wife.  All the facts of the accusation were known to the man, and the fact also that his master’s present wife was entirely in accord with his master.  It could not be that she should have determined to prolong her visit, and then have sent him back to her husband with such a message as this!  ‘If you’ll hold the hosses just a minute,’ he said, ‘I’ll go in and see my missus.’

But the Grange gardener was quite as intent on his side of the question as was the Folking coachman on the other.  To him the horrors of bigamy were manifest.  He was quite of opinion that ’Miss Hester,’—­who never ought to have been married in that way at all,—­should now be kept a prisoner in her father’s house.  ’It ain’t no use your going in,—­and you can’t,’ said the gardener.  ’I ain’t a-going to hold the horses, and there’s nobody as will.’

‘What’s up, mate?’