But now that was all gone.

Was there to be any new source of trouble betwixt him and his son?
'I intend to ask Hester Bolton to be my wife,' said John Caldigate.
The father, who was standing in the library, slapped both his hands down upon the table.

'Hester Bolton!' 'Is there any objection ?' 'What do you know about her?
Why;--she's a child.' 'She is nearly twenty, sir.' 'Have you ever seen her ?' 'Yes, I have seen her,--twice.

I daresay you'll think it very absurd, but I have made up my mind about it.

If I say that I was thinking about it all the time I was in Australia, of course you will laugh at me.' 'I will not laugh at you at all, John.' 'If any one else were to say so to me, I should laugh at them.