Things were not as they had formerly been.

Mrs.Goddard no longer felt that she had anything to hide; the squire knew that he no longer had anything to hope.
If he had been a selfish man, if she had been a less sensible woman, their friendship might have ended then and there.

But Mr.Juxon was not selfish, and Mary Goddard did not lack good sense.

Having ascertained that in the ordinary course of events there was no possibility of ever marrying her, the squire did not at once give her over and go elsewhere; on the contrary he showed himself more desirous than ever of assisting her and amusing her.

He was a patient man; his day might come yet, if Goddard died.