They went to Italy, and stayed during the winter months in Rome, and then, when the fine weather came, they returned across the Alps, and lingered about among the playgrounds of Europe, visiting Switzerland, the Tyrol, and the Pyrenees, and returning home to Cambridgeshire at the close of the following September.
And then there was a reason for the return.

It would be well that the coming heir to the Folking estate should be born at Folking.

Whether an heir, or only an insignificant girl, it would be well that the child should be born amidst the comforts of home; and so they came back.

When they reached the station at Cambridge the squire was there to receive them, as were also Robert Bolton and his wife.

'I am already in my new house,' said the old man,--'but I mean to go out with you for to-day and to-morrow, and just stay till you are comfortably fixed.' 'I never see her myself,' said Robert, in answer to a whispered inquiry from his sister.