He was sorry. The petulance that relatives show towards each other is

in truth directed against that intangible Causality which has shaped

the situation no less for the offenders than the offended, but is too

elusive to be discerned and cornered by poor humanity in irritated

mood. Melbury followed her. She had rambled on to the paddock, where

the white frost lay, and where starlings in flocks of twenties and

thirties were walking about, watched by a comfortable family of

sparrows perched in a line along the string-course of the chimney,

preening themselves in the rays of the sun.

"Come in to breakfast, my girl," he said. "And as to Giles, use your

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own mind. Whatever pleases you will please me."

"I am promised to him, father; and I cannot help thinking that in honor

I ought to marry him, whenever I do marry."

He had a strong suspicion that somewhere in the bottom of her heart

there pulsed an old simple indigenous feeling favorable to Giles,

though it had become overlaid with implanted tastes. But he would not

distinctly express his views on the promise. "Very well," he said.

"But I hope I sha'n't lose you yet. Come in to breakfast. What did

you think of the inside of Hintock House the other day?"

"I liked it much."

"Different from friend Winterborne's?"

She said nothing; but he who knew her was aware that she meant by her

silence to reproach him with drawing cruel comparisons.

"Mrs. Charmond has asked you to come again--when, did you say?"

"She thought Tuesday, but would send the day before to let me know if

it suited her." And with this subject upon their lips they entered to

breakfast.

Tuesday came, but no message from Mrs. Charmond. Nor was there any on

Wednesday. In brief, a fortnight slipped by without a sign, and it

looked suspiciously as if Mrs. Charmond were not going further in the

direction of "taking up" Grace at present.

Her father reasoned thereon. Immediately after his daughter's two

indubitable successes with Mrs. Charmond--the interview in the wood and

a visit to the House--she had attended Winterborne's party. No doubt

the out-and-out joviality of that gathering had made it a topic in the

neighborhood, and that every one present as guests had been widely

spoken of--Grace, with her exceptional qualities, above all. What,

then, so natural as that Mrs. Charmond should have heard the village

news, and become quite disappointed in her expectations of Grace at

finding she kept such company?




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