"Yes," said Fitzpiers.
"And you wish to become better acquainted with her? You mean with a
view to marriage--of course that is what you mean?"
"Yes," said the young man. "I mean, get acquainted with her, with a
view to being her accepted lover; and if we suited each other, what
would naturally follow."
The timber-merchant was much surprised, and fairly agitated; his hand
trembled as he laid by his walking-stick. "This takes me unawares,"
said he, his voice wellnigh breaking down. "I don't mean that there is
anything unexpected in a gentleman being attracted by her; but it did
not occur to me that it would be you. I always said," continued he,
with a lump in his throat, "that my Grace would make a mark at her own
level some day. That was why I educated her. I said to myself, 'I'll
do it, cost what it may;' though her mother-law was pretty frightened
at my paying out so much money year after year. I knew it would tell
in the end. 'Where you've not good material to work on, such doings
would be waste and vanity,' I said. 'But where you have that material
it is sure to be worth while.'"
"I am glad you don't object," said Fitzpiers, almost wishing that Grace
had not been quite so cheap for him.
"If she is willing I don't object, certainly. Indeed," added the
honest man, "it would be deceit if I were to pretend to feel anything
else than highly honored personally; and it is a great credit to her to
have drawn to her a man of such good professional station and venerable
old family. That huntsman-fellow little thought how wrong he was about
her! Take her and welcome, sir."
"I'll endeavor to ascertain her mind."
"Yes, yes. But she will be agreeable, I should think. She ought to
be."
"I hope she may. Well, now you'll expect to see me frequently."
"Oh yes. But, name it all--about her cough, and her going away. I had
quite forgot that that was what I came about."
"I assure you," said the surgeon, "that her cough can only be the
result of a slight cold, and it is not necessary to banish her to any
seaside place at all."
Melbury looked unconvinced, doubting whether he ought to take
Fitzpiers's professional opinion in circumstances which naturally led
him to wish to keep her there. The doctor saw this, and honestly
dreading to lose sight of her, he said, eagerly, "Between ourselves, if
I am successful with her I will take her away myself for a month or
two, as soon as we are married, which I hope will be before the chilly
weather comes on. This will be so very much better than letting her go
now."