It was therefore absolutely decided that steps should be taken for enabling John Caldigate to meet Hester at Robert Bolton's house.
'I suppose it will end in a marriage,' William Bolton said to his brother Robert when they were alone.
'Of course it will.

She is the dearest creature in the world;--so good to her mother; but no fool, and quite aware that the kind of restraint to which she has been subjected is an injustice.

Of course she will be gratified when a man like that tells her that he loves her.

He is a good-looking fellow, with a fine spirit and plenty of means.

How on earth can she do better ?' 'But Mrs.B. ?' said William, who would sometimes thus disrespectfully allude to his step-mother.
'Mrs.B.will do all she can to prevent it,' said Robert; 'but I think we shall find that Hester has a will of her own.' On the following day John Caldigate called at the bank, where the banker had a small wainscoted back-parlour appropriated to himself.