Here Fitzpiers sat on the floor against the wall till she had hauled

out materials for a bed, which she spread on the floor in one of the

aforesaid nooks. She obtained water and a basin, and washed the dried

blood from his face and hands; and when he was comfortably reclining,

fetched food from the larder. While he ate her eyes lingered anxiously

on his face, following its every movement with such loving-kindness as

only a fond woman can show.

He was now in better condition, and discussed his position with her.

"What I fancy I said to Melbury must have been enough to enrage any

man, if uttered in cold blood, and with knowledge of his presence. But

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I did not know him, and I was stupefied by what he had given me, so

that I hardly was aware of what I said. Well--the veil of that temple

is rent in twain!...As I am not going to be seen again in Hintock, my

first efforts must be directed to allay any alarm that may be felt at

my absence, before I am able to get clear away. Nobody must suspect

that I have been hurt, or there will be a country talk about me.

Felice, I must at once concoct a letter to check all search for me. I

think if you can bring me a pen and paper I may be able to do it now.

I could rest better if it were done. Poor thing! how I tire her with

running up and down!"

She fetched writing materials, and held up the blotting-book as a

support to his hand, while he penned a brief note to his nominal wife.

"The animosity shown towards me by your father," he wrote, in this

coldest of marital epistles, "is such that I cannot return again to a

roof which is his, even though it shelters you. A parting is

unavoidable, as you are sure to be on his side in this division. I am

starting on a journey which will take me a long way from Hintock, and

you must not expect to see me there again for some time."

He then gave her a few directions bearing upon his professional

engagements and other practical matters, concluding without a hint of

his destination, or a notion of when she would see him again. He

offered to read the note to Felice before he closed it up, but she

would not hear or see it; that side of his obligations distressed her

beyond endurance. She turned away from Fitzpiers, and sobbed bitterly.




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