All this had been discussed in the family, so that the nature of the petition was well known to Mrs.
Bolton for some time before she received it.

Mrs.Daniel, who had consented to act in the event of a refusal from Puritan Grange, had more than once used her influence with her step-mother-in-law.

But no hint had as yet come to Folking as to what the answer might be.

It had also been suggested that Robert should be the other godfather,--the proposal having been made to Mrs.Robert.But there had come upon all the Boltons a feeling that Robert was indifferent perhaps, even unwilling to undertake the task.

And yet no one knew why.