She admitted the advantage; but it was plain that though Fitzpiers

exercised a certain fascination over her when he was present, or even

more, an almost psychic influence, and though his impulsive act in the

wood had stirred her feelings indescribably, she had never regarded him

in the light of a destined husband. "I don't know what to answer," she

said. "I have learned that he is very clever."

"He's all right, and he's coming here to see you."

A premonition that she could not resist him if he came strangely moved

her. "Of course, father, you remember that it is only lately that

Giles--"

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"You know that you can't think of him. He has given up all claim to

you."

She could not explain the subtleties of her feeling as he could state

his opinion, even though she had skill in speech, and her father had

none. That Fitzpiers acted upon her like a dram, exciting her,

throwing her into a novel atmosphere which biassed her doings until the

influence was over, when she felt something of the nature of regret for

the mood she had experienced--still more if she reflected on the

silent, almost sarcastic, criticism apparent in Winterborne's air

towards her--could not be told to this worthy couple in words.

It so happened that on this very day Fitzpiers was called away from

Hintock by an engagement to attend some medical meetings, and his

visits, therefore, did not begin at once. A note, however, arrived

from him addressed to Grace, deploring his enforced absence. As a

material object this note was pretty and superfine, a note of a sort

that she had been unaccustomed to see since her return to Hintock,

except when a school friend wrote to her--a rare instance, for the

girls were respecters of persons, and many cooled down towards the

timber-dealer's daughter when she was out of sight. Thus the receipt

of it pleased her, and she afterwards walked about with a reflective

air.

In the evening her father, who knew that the note had come, said, "Why

be ye not sitting down to answer your letter? That's what young folks

did in my time."

She replied that it did not require an answer.

"Oh, you know best," he said. Nevertheless, he went about his business

doubting if she were right in not replying; possibly she might be so

mismanaging matters as to risk the loss of an alliance which would

bring her much happiness.

Melbury's respect for Fitzpiers was based less on his professional

position, which was not much, than on the standing of his family in the

county in by-gone days. That implicit faith in members of

long-established families, as such, irrespective of their personal

condition or character, which is still found among old-fashioned people

in the rural districts reached its full intensity in Melbury. His

daughter's suitor was descended from a family he had heard of in his

grandfather's time as being once great, a family which had conferred

its name upon a neighboring village; how, then, could anything be amiss

in this betrothal?




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