He was a man whose conscience did not easily let him rest when he believed that a duty was incumbent on him. It was his duty now, he thought, not to bid her go, not to advise her to go,--but to put before her what reasons there might be for her going. 'I am telling you,' he said, 'what other people say.' 'I do not regard what other people say.' 'That might be possible for a man, Hester, but a woman has to regard what the world says. You are young, and may have a long life before you. We cannot hide from ourselves the fact that a most terrible misfortune has fallen upon you, altogether undeserved but very grievous.' 'God, when he gave me my husband,' she replied, 'did me more good than any man can do me harm by taking him away. I never cease to tell myself that the blessing is greater than the misfortune.' 'But, my dearest----' 'I know it all, father. I know what you would tell me. If I live here after he comes out of prison people will say that I am his mistress.' 'Not that, not that,' he cried, unable to bear the contumely of the word, even from her lips. 'Yes, father; that is what you mean. That is what they all mean. That is what mamma means, and Margaret. Let them call me what they will. It is not what they call me, but what I am. It is bad for a woman to have evil said of her, but it is worse for her to do evil. It is your house, and you, of course, can bid me go.' 'I will never do that.' 'But unless I am turned out homeless on to the roads, I will stay here where he left me. I have only one sure way of doing right, and that is to obey him as closely as I can. He cannot order me now, but he has left his orders. He has told me to remain under this roof, and to call myself by his name, and in no way to derogate from my own honour as his wife. By God's help I will do as he bids me. Nothing that any of them can say shall turn me an inch from the way he has pointed out. You are good to me.' 'I will try to be good to you.' 'You are so good to me that I can hardly understand your goodness. Trusting to that, I will wait here till he shall come again and tell me where and how I am to live.' After that the old Squire made no further attempt in the same direction, finding that no slightest hollow had been made on that other stone. Chapter XLV The Boltons Are Much Troubled