Hester had her hat and shawl with her; but Mrs.Bolton did not suspect that she would endeavour to escape now without returning for her child.

Therefore she sat firm and square, waiting to hear from Hester herself what her father might bring himself to communicate to her.

'Hester,' he said, as he slowly walked round the sweep in front of the house, 'Hester,' he said, 'you would do your duty best to God and man,--best to John Caldigate and to your child,--by remaining here.' 'How can I unless he tells me ?' 'You have your father's authority.' 'You surrendered it when you gave me to him as his wife.

It is not that I would rebel against you, papa, but that I must obey him.

Does not St.
Paul say, "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands as unto the Lord" ?' 'Certainly; and you cannot suppose that in any ordinary case I would interfere between you and him.