"You hurt me a little, farmer--though I am much obliged to you for your
kindness. People don't appreciate me, I say. Between ourselves, I am
losing my practice here; and why? Because I see matchless attraction
where matchless attraction is, both in person and position. I mention
no names, so nobody will be the wiser. But I have lost her, in a
legitimate sense, that is. If I were a free man now, things have come
to such a pass that she could not refuse me; while with her fortune
(which I don't covet for itself) I should have a chance of satisfying
an honorable ambition--a chance I have never had yet, and now never,
never shall have, probably!"
Melbury, his heart throbbing against the other's backbone, and his
brain on fire with indignation, ventured to mutter huskily, "Why?"
The horse ambled on some steps before Fitzpiers replied, "Because I am
tied and bound to another by law, as tightly as I am to you by your
arm--not that I complain of your arm--I thank you for helping me.
Well, where are we? Not nearly home yet?...Home, say I. It is a home!
When I might have been at the other house over there." In a stupefied
way he flung his hand in the direction of the park. "I was just two
months too early in committing myself. Had I only seen the other
first--"
Here the old man's arm gave Fitzpiers a convulsive shake. "What are
you doing?" continued the latter. "Keep still, please, or put me down.
I was saying that I lost her by a mere little two months! There is no
chance for me now in this world, and it makes me reckless--reckless!
Unless, indeed, anything should happen to the other one. She is
amiable enough; but if anything should happen to her--and I hear she is
ill--well, if it should, I should be free--and my fame, my happiness,
would be insured."
These were the last words that Fitzpiers uttered in his seat in front
of the timber-merchant. Unable longer to master himself, Melbury, the
skin of his face compressed, whipped away his spare arm from
Fitzpiers's waist, and seized him by the collar.
"You heartless villain--after all that we have done for ye!" he cried,
with a quivering lip. "And the money of hers that you've had, and the
roof we've provided to shelter ye! It is to me, George Melbury, that
you dare to talk like that!" The exclamation was accompanied by a
powerful swing from the shoulder, which flung the young man head-long
into the road, Fitzpiers fell with a heavy thud upon the stumps of some
undergrowth which had been cut during the winter preceding. Darling
continued her walk for a few paces farther and stopped.