'I don't suppose they ever go out anywhere.' 'I don't think they do;--except to church.' 'You can't very well ask her there.

You can always knock at the house-door.' 'I can call again once;--but what if I am refused then?
It is of no use knocking if a man does not get in.' After a little more conversation the squire was so far persuaded that he assented to the proposed marriage as far as his assent was required; but he did not see his way to give any assistance.

He could only suggest that his son should go direct to the father and make his proposition in the old-fashioned legitimate fashion.
But when it was put to him whether Mr.Bolton would not certainly reject the offer unless it were supported by some goodwill on the part of his own daughter, he acknowledged that it might probably be so.

'You see,' said the squire, 'he believes in gold, but he doesn't believe in gold-mines.' 'It is that accursed Davis that stands against me,' said the son.
John Caldigate, no doubt, had many things to trouble him.

Before he had resolved on making his second visit to Chesterton, he received a most heartrending epistle from Aunt Polly in which he was assured that he was quite as dear to her as ever, quite as dear as her own children, and in which he was implored to return to the haunts of his childhood where everybody loved him and admired him.