She had proved her power, and must be allowed to go.

Mrs.Bolton, however, would not even yet acknowledge that she was beaten.

In a few more hours, she thought, Hester would allow herself to be taken to her bed, and then all might be well.

But she could not stand against the combined force of her husband and his two sons; and so it was decided that the front door should be opened for the prisoner, and that the chains should be removed from the gate.

'I should be afraid of the people,' William Bolton said to his father.
It was not till this decision had been given that Mrs.Bolton felt that the struggle of the last three days had been too much for her.