Hester · Chapter 44 (2/2)

He took his departure in the beginning of the winter, just when the want of the hot water-pipes would be beginning to make itself felt. And it was almost without consulting her mother that Hester made arrangements for removing their few household goods into his house, to leave their own free for the mistress of all. Mrs. John consented to the arrangement, but not without a few tears.

“It is not that I mind the difference,” she said, “in the size of the rooms, or anything of that sort. But it feels like coming down in the world.”

“We have all come down in the world,” said Hester; “and Catherine most of all.”

And then Mrs. John cried for Catherine, as she had first done for herself, and resisted no more.