And in Hester's peculiar position, she ought to have the chance of choosing for herself.' In this way something almost like a conspiracy was made on behalf of Caldigate.

And yet the old man did not as yet abandon his prejudices against the miner.

A man who had at so early an age done so much to ruin himself, and had then sprung so suddenly from ruin to prosperity, could not, he thought, be regarded as a steady well-to-do man of business.

He did agree that, as regarded Hester, the prison-bars should be removed; but he did not think that she should be invited to walk forth with Mr.
John Caldigate.

Robert declared that his sister was quite able to form an opinion of her own, and boldly suggested that Hester should be allowed to come and dine at his house.