第23章

Whilehewassittingandthinkingastepcametothedoor，andMelburyappeared，lookingverysorryforhisposition。

Winterbornewelcomedhimbyawordandalook，andwentonwithhisexaminationoftheparchments。Hisvisitorsatdown。

“Giles。”hesaid，“thisisveryawkward，andIamsorryforit。

Whatareyougoingtodo？”

Gilesinformedhimoftherealstateofaffairs，andhowbarelyhehadmissedavailinghimselfofhischanceofrenewal。

“Whatamisfortune！Whywasthisneglected？Well，thebestthingyoucandoistowriteandtellherallaboutit，andthrowyourselfuponhergenerosity。”

“Iwouldrathernot。”murmuredGiles。

“Butyoumust。”saidMelbury。

Inshort，hearguedsocogentlythatGilesallowedhimselftobepersuaded，andthelettertoMrs。CharmondwaswrittenandsenttoHintockHouse，whence，asheknew，itwouldatoncebeforwardedtoher。

Melburyfeelingthathehaddonesogoodanactionincomingasalmosttoextenuatehispreviousarbitraryconducttonothing，wenthome；andGileswasleftalonetothesuspenseofwaitingforareplyfromthedivinitywhoshapedtheendsoftheHintockpopulation。Bythistimeallthevillagersknewofthecircumstances，andbeingwellnighlikeonefamily，akeeninterestwastheresultallround。

EverybodythoughtofGiles；nobodythoughtofMarty。Hadanyofthemlookedinuponherduringthosemoonlightnightswhichprecededtheburialofherfather，theywouldhaveseenthegirlabsolutelyaloneinthehousewiththedeadman。Herownchamberbeingnearestthestairs，thecoffinhadbeenplacedthereforconvenience；andatacertainhourofthenight，whenthemoonarrivedoppositethewindow，itsbeamsstreamedacrossthestillprofileofSouth，sublimedbytheaugustpresenceofdeath，andonwardafewfeetfartheruponthefaceofhisdaughter，lyinginherlittlebedinthestillnessofareposealmostasdignifiedasthatofhercompanion——thereposeofaguilelesssoulthathadnothingmoreleftonearthtolose，exceptalifewhichshedidnotovervalue。

Southwasburied，andaweekpassed，andWinterbornewatchedforareplyfromMrs。Charmond。Melburywasverysanguineastoitstenor；butWinterbornehadnottoldhimoftheencounterwithhercarriage，when，ifeverhehadheardanaffrontedtoneonawoman’slips，hehadhearditonhers。

Thepostman’stimeforpassingwasjustafterMelbury’smenhadassembledinthespar-house；andWinterborne，whowhennotbusyonhisownaccountwouldlendassistancethere，usedtogooutintothelaneeverymorningandmeetthepost-manattheendofoneofthegreenridesthroughthehazelcopse，inthestraightstretchofwhichhisladenfigurecouldbeseenalongwayoff。Gracealsowasveryanxious；moreanxiousthanherfather；more，perhaps，thanWinterbornehimself。Thisanxietyledherintothespar-houseonsomepretextorotheralmosteverymorningwhiletheywereawaitingthereply。

Fitzpierstoo，thoughhedidnotpersonallyappear，wasmuchinterested，andnotaltogethereasyinhismind；forhehadbeeninformedbyanauthorityofwhathehadhimselfconjectured，thatifthetreehadbeenallowedtostand，theoldmanwouldhavegoneoncomplaining，butmig