But Mrs. Bolton was convinced , if it did come, it would be Sir Geoffrey’s child. So there!

Not long after, the rector said gently to Clifford:

“And may we really hope for an heir to Wragby? Ah, that would be the hand of God in mercy, indeed!”

“Well! We may hope ,” said Clifford, with a faint irony, and at the same time, a certain conviction. He had begun to believe it really possible it might even be his child.