She knew at least that were she to act otherwise there would be upon her conscience the weight of sin.

She did not know that the convictions on which she rested with such confidence had come in truth from her injured pride,--had settled themselves in her mind because she had been beaten in her endeavours to prevent her daughter's marriage.

She was not aware that she regarded John Caldigate as a goat,--as one who beyond all doubt was a goat,--simply because John Caldigate had had his way, while she had been debarred from hers.

Such no doubt was the case.

And yet who can deny her praise for fidelity to her own convictions?
When we read of those who have massacred and tortured their opponents in religion, have boiled alive the unfortunates who have differed from themselves as to the meaning of an unintelligible word or two, have vigorously torn the entrails out of those who have been pious with a piety different from their own, how shall we dare to say that they should be punished for their fidelity?
Mrs.Bolton spent much of that afternoon with her knees on the hard boards,--thinking that a hassock would have taken something from the sanctity of the action,--wrestling for her child in prayer.