Meanwhile Melbury had entered the house with the look of a man who sees
a vision before him. His wife was in the room. Without taking off his
hat he sat down at random.
"Luce--we've done it!" he said. "Yes--the thing is as I expected. The
spell, that I foresaw might be worked, has worked. She's done it, and
done it well. Where is she--Grace, I mean?"
"Up in her room--what has happened!"
Mr. Melbury explained the circumstances as coherently as he could. "I
told you so," he said. "A maid like her couldn't stay hid long, even
in a place like this. But where is Grace? Let's have her down.
Here--Gra-a-ace!"
She appeared after a reasonable interval, for she was sufficiently
spoiled by this father of hers not to put herself in a hurry, however
impatient his tones. "What is it, father?" said she, with a smile.
"Why, you scamp, what's this you've been doing? Not home here more than
six months, yet, instead of confining yourself to your father's rank,
making havoc in the educated classes."
Though accustomed to show herself instantly appreciative of her
father's meanings, Grace was fairly unable to look anyhow but at a loss
now.
"No, no--of course you don't know what I mean, or you pretend you
don't; though, for my part, I believe women can see these things
through a double hedge. But I suppose I must tell ye. Why, you've
flung your grapnel over the doctor, and he's coming courting forthwith."
"Only think of that, my dear! Don't you feel it a triumph?" said Mrs.
Melbury.
"Coming courting! I've done nothing to make him," Grace exclaimed.
"'Twasn't necessary that you should, 'Tis voluntary that rules in these
things....Well, he has behaved very honorably, and asked my consent.
You'll know what to do when he gets here, I dare say. I needn't tell
you to make it all smooth for him."
"You mean, to lead him on to marry me?"
"I do. Haven't I educated you for it?"
Grace looked out of the window and at the fireplace with no animation
in her face. "Why is it settled off-hand in this way?" said she,
coquettishly. "You'll wait till you hear what I think of him, I
suppose?"
"Oh yes, of course. But you see what a good thing it will be."
She weighed the statement without speaking.
"You will be restored to the society you've been taken away from,"
continued her father; "for I don't suppose he'll stay here long."