It was not impossible that Crinkett might have been there.

If so the man would have told something of his story; and his wife's mother was the last person in the world whom, under such circumstances, he could hope to satisfy.
He must tell no lie to any one; he must at least conceal nothing of the things as they occurred now.

He must not allow it to be first told by Crinkett that they two had seen each other in the Gardens.

But he could not declare this to Mrs.Bolton.For the present, the less he saw of Mrs.Bolton the better.

She would come to the christening to-morrow,--unless indeed Crinkett had already told enough to induce her to change her mind,--but after that any intimacy with the house at Chesterton had better be postponed till this had all been settled.
But how much would have to be endured before that! Robert Bolton had almost threatened to take his wife away from him.