His grandfather had belonged to a dead century, and retained until the last his almost feudal idea of the bond between his family and the Sandals.

But the present squire had stepped outside the shadows of the past, and Stephen was fully abreast of his own times.

He understood very well, that, whatever these papers related to, they would be a constant thorn in Sandal's side; and he saw them lying between Charlotte and himself, a barrier unknown, and insurmountable because unknown.
From Ducie he could obtain neither information nor assistance.

"Mother," he asked, "do you know what those papers are about ?" "Ratherly." "When can you tell me ?" "There must be a deal of sorrow before I can tell you." "Do you want to tell me ?" "If I should dare to want it one minute, I should ask God's pardon the next.

When I unlock that box, Steve, there is like to be trouble in Sandal.