and
that even visits of ceremony should be made to Folking. But Mrs. Bolton
would have nothing to do with such half friendship. In the time that was
coming she must be everything or nothing to her daughter. And she could
not be brought to think that one who had been so manifestly a goat
should cease to be a goat so suddenly. In other words, she could not
soften her heart towards the man who had conquered her. Therefore when
the time came for the baby to be born there had been no reconciliation
between Puritan Grange and Folking.

Mrs. Babington had been somewhat less stern. Immediately on the return
of the married couple to their own home she had still been full of
wrath, and had predicted every kind of evil; but when she heard that all
tongues were saying all good things of this nephew of hers, and when she
was reminded by her husband that blood is thicker than water, and when
she reflected that it is the duty of Christians to forgive injuries, she
wrote to the sinner as follows:--

'BABINGTON HALL, _November_ 187-.

'My DEAR JOHN,--We are all here desirous that bygones should be
bygones, and are willing to forgive,--though we may not perhaps be
able to forget. I am quite of opinion that resentments should not be
lasting, let them have been ever so well justified by circumstances
at first.

'Your uncle bids me say that he hopes you will come over and shoot
the Puddinghall coverts with Humphry and John. They propose Thursday
next but would alter the day if that does not suit.

'We have heard of your wife's condition, of course, and trust that
everything may go well with her. I shall hope to make her
acquaintance some day when she is able to receive visitors.

'I am particularly induced at the present moment to hold out to you
once more the right hand of fellowship and family affection by the
fact that dear Julia is about to settle herself most advantageously
in life. She is engaged to marry the Rev. Augustus Smirkie, the
rector of Plum-cum-Pippins near Woodbridge in this county. We all
like Mr. Smirkie very much indeed, and think _that Julia has been
most fortunate in her choice_.' (These words were underscored doubly
by way of showing how very much superior was Mr. Augustus Smirkie to
Mr. John Caldigate.) 'I may perhaps as well mention, to avoid
anything disagreeable at present, that Julia is at this time staying
with