But, had he been wise, he would so have written his letter that no answer should reach him before he had left the shores of England.

His conscience, however, pinched him, and before he had even settled the day on which he would start, he wrote to his aunt a long letter in which he told her everything,--how he had disposed of his inheritance,--how he had become so indebted to Davis as to have to seek a new fortune out of England,--how he had bade farewell to Folking for ever,--and how impossible it was under all these circumstances that he should aspire to the hand of his cousin Julia.
It was as though a thunderbolt had fallen among them at Babington.

Mr.
Babington himself was certainly not a clever man, but he knew enough of his own position, as an owner of acres, to be very proud of it, and he was affectionate enough towards his nephew to feel the full weight of this terrible disruption It seemed to him that his brother-in-law, Daniel Caldigate, was doing a very wicked thing, and he hurried across the country, to Folking, that he might say so.

'You have not sense enough to understand the matter,' said Daniel Caldigate.

'You have no heart in your bowels if you can disinherit an only son,' said the big squire.