第43章

honesty，goodness，manliness，tenderness，devotion，forheronlyexistedintheirpuritynowinthebreastsofunvarnishedmen；andherewasonewhohadmanifestedthemtowardsherfromhisyouthup。

Therewas，further，thatnever-ceasingpityinhersoulforGilesasamanwhomshehadwronged——amanwhohadbeenunfortunateinhisworldlytransactions；while，notwithoutatouchofsublimity，hehad，likeHoratio，bornehimselfthroughouthisscathing“Asone，insufferingall，thatsuffersnothing。”

Itwastheseperceptions，andnosubtlecatchingofherhusband’smurmurs，thathadbredtheabstractionvisibleinher。

WhenherfatherapproachedthehouseafterwitnessingtheinterviewbetweenFitzpiersandMrs。Charmond，Gracewaslookingoutofhersitting-roomwindow，asifshehadnothingtodo，orthinkof，orcarefor。Hestoodstill。

“Ah，Grace。”hesaid，regardingherfixedly。

“Yes，father。”shemurmured。

“Waitingforyourdearhusband？”heinquired，speakingwiththesarcasmofpitifulaffection。

“Ohno——notespecially。Hehasagreatmanypatientstoseethisafternoon。”

Melburycamequiteclose。“Grace，what’stheuseoftalkinglikethat，whenyouknow——Here，comedownandwalkwithmeoutinthegarden，child。”

Heunfastenedthedoorintheivy-lacedwall，andwaited。Thisapparentindifferencealarmedhim。HewouldfarratherthatshehadrushedinallthefireofjealousytoHintockHouse，regardlessofconventionality，confrontedandattackedFeliceCharmondunguibusetrostro，andaccusedhereveninexaggeratedshapeofstealingawayherhusband。Suchastormmighthaveclearedtheair。

Sheemergedinaminuteortwo，andtheywentinsidetogether。

“YouknowaswellasIdo。”heresumed，“thatthereissomethingthreateningmischieftoyourlife；andyetyoupretendyoudonot。

DoyousupposeIdon’tseethetroubleinyourfaceeveryday？I

amverysurethatthisquietudeiswrongconductinyou。Youshouldlookmoreintomatters。”

“Iamquietbecausemysadnessisnotofanaturetostirmetoaction。”

Melburywantedtoaskheradozenquestions——didshenotfeeljealous？wasshenotindignant？butanaturaldelicacyrestrainedhim。“Youareverytameandlet-alone，Iamboundtosay。”heremarked，pointedly。

“IamwhatIfeel，father。”sherepeated。

Heglancedather，andtherereturneduponhismindthesceneofherofferingtowedWinterborneinsteadofFitzpiersinthelastdaysbeforehermarriage；andheaskedhimselfifitcouldbethefactthatshelovedWinterborne，nowthatshehadlosthim，morethanshehadeverdonewhenshewascomparativelyfreetochoosehim。

“Whatwouldyouhavemedo？”sheasked，inalowvoice。

Herecalledhismindfromtheretrospectivepaintothepracticalmatterbeforethem。“IwouldhaveyougotoMrs。Charmond。”hesaid。

“GotoMrs。Charmond——whatfor？”saidshe。

“Well——ifImustspeakplain，dearGrace——toaskher，appealtoherinthenameofyourcommonwomanhood，andyourmanylikesentimentsonthings，nottomakeunhappinessbetweenyouandyourhusband。Itlieswithherentirelytodooneortheother——thatI

cansee。”

Grace’sfacehadheatedatherfather’swords，andtheveryrustleofherskirtsuponthebox-edgingbespokehauteur。“Ishallnotthinkofgoingtoher，father——ofcourseIcouldnot！”sheanswered。

“Why——don’t’eewanttobehappierthanyoubeatpresent？”saidMelbury，moremovedonheraccountthanshewasherself。

“Idon’twishtobemorehumiliated。IfIhaveanythingtobearI

canbearitinsilence。”

“But，mydearmaid，youaretooyoung——youdon’tknowwhatthepresentstateofthingsmayleadto。Justseetheharmdonea’ready！YourhusbandwouldhavegoneawaytoBudmouthtoabiggerpracticeifithadnotbeenforthis。Althoughithasgonesuchalittleway，itispoisoningyourfutureevennow。Mrs。Charmondisthoughtlesslybad，notbadbycalculation；andjustawordtohernowmightsave’eeapeckofwoes。”

“Ah，Ilovedh