Mr.Bolton was a silent, cautious man, even in his own family, and had said nothing of this business to his wife, and nothing, of course, to his daughter.

Mrs.Bolton asked after the Squire, and expressed a hope that her guest would not find the house very dull for one night.

She had heard that John Caldigate was a fast young man, and of course regarded him as a lost sinner.

Hester, who was with her mother, looked at him with all her young big eyes, but did not speak a word.

It was very seldom that she saw any young man, or indeed young people of either sex.