For a long time Mrs.Ambrose entertained a feeble intention of addressing Mrs.
Goddard directly upon the subject of John's affections, but the longer she put off doing so, the harder it seemed to do it.

Mrs.Ambrose had great faith in the sternness of her eye under certain circumstances, and seeing that Mrs.Goddard never winced, she gradually fell into the belief that John had been the more to blame, if there was any blame in the matter.

She had indeed succeeded in the first instance, by methods of her own which have been heretofore detailed, in extracting a sort of reluctant admission from her husband; but since that day he had proved obdurate to all entreaty.

Once only he had said with considerable impatience that John was a very silly boy, and was much better engaged with his books at college than in running after Mrs.Goddard.That was all, and gradually as the regular and methodical life at the vicarage effaced the memory of the doings at Christmas time, the good Mrs.
Ambrose forgot that anything unpleasant had ever occurred.

There was no disturbance of the existing relations and everything went on as before for many weeks.