She did not draw it away, and he felt she
trusted him.
Now that the hard duty was done, and if not much good yet no harm had
resulted, he went home a different man. A pang of fear for Hester in the
power of "that ape Gartley" would now and then pass through him; but he
had now a right to look after her, and who can tell what might not turn
up!
His host congratulated him on looking so much better for his walk, and
Hester recounted to her mother their strange conversation.
"Only think, mamma!" she said; "he offered me a thousand a year not to
marry lord Gartley!"
"Hester!"
"He does not like the earl, and he does like me; so he wants me not to
marry him. That is all!"
"I thought I could have believed anything of him, but this goes almost
beyond belief!"
"Why should it, mamma? There is an odder thing still: instead of hating
him for it, I like him better than before."
"Are you sure he has no notion of making room for himself?"
"Quite sure. He would have it he was old enough to be my grandfather.
But you know he is not that!"
"Perhaps you wouldn't mind if he were a little younger yet!" said her
mother merrily, "as he is too young to be your grandfather.
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