before Christmas was not kept, but it was broken only by a
little. They were married early in January. In December Mrs. Rowan
came back to Baslehurst, and became the guest of her son, who was
then keeping a bachelor's house at the brewery. This lady's first
visit to the cottage after her return was an affair of great moment
to Rachel. Everything now had gone well with her except that question
of her mother-in-law. Her lover had come back to her a better lover
than ever; her mother petted her to her heart's content, speaking of
Luke as though she had never suspected him of lupine propensities;
Mr. Comfort talked to her of her coming marriage as though she had
acted with great sagacity through the whole affair, addressing her in
a tone indicating much respect, and differing greatly from that in
which he had been wont to catechise her when she was nothing more
than Mrs. Ray's girl at Bragg's End; and even Dolly had sent in her
adhesion, with more or less cordiality. But still she had feared
Mrs. Rowan's enmity, and when Luke told her that his mother was
coming to Baslehurst for the Christmas,--so that she might also
be present at the marriage,--Rachel felt that there was still a
cloud in her heavens. "I know your mother won't like me," she said
to Luke. "She made up her mind not to like me when she was here
before." Luke assured her that she did not understand his mother's
character,--asserting that his mother would certainly like any woman
that he might choose for his wife as soon as she should have been
made to understand that his choice was irrevocable. But Rachel
remembered too well the report as to that former visit to the cottage
which Mrs. Rowan had made together with Mrs. Tappitt; and when she
heard that Luke's mother was again in the parlour she went down from
her bedroom with hesitating step and an uneasy heart. Mrs. Rowan was
seated in the room with her mother and sister when she entered it,
and therefore the first words of the interview had been already
spoken. To Mrs. Ray the prospect of the visit had not been pleasant,
for she also remembered how grand and distant the lady had been when
she came to the cottage on that former occasion; but Rachel observed,
as she entered the room, that her mother's face did not wear that
look of dismay which was usual to her when she was in any presence
that was disagreeable to her.

"My dear child!" said Mrs. Rowan rising from her seat, and opening
her arms for an embrace.