第44章

Winterbornesawthatsomethinghadgonewrongwithhisformerfriend，andthrowingdowntheswitchhewasabouttointerweave，herespondedonlytooreadilytothemoodofthetimber-dealer。

“Issheill？”hesaid，hurriedly。

“No，no。”Melburystoodwithoutspeakingforsomeminutes，andthen，asthoughhecouldnotbringhimselftoproceed，turnedtogoaway。

WinterbornetoldoneofhismentopackupthetoolsforthenightandwalkedafterMelbury。

“HeavenforbidthatIshouldseemtooinquisitive，sir。”hesaid，“especiallysincewedon’tstandasweusedtostandtooneanother；butIhopeitiswellwiththemalloveryourway？”

“No。”saidMelbury——“no。”Hestopped，andstruckthesmoothtrunkofayoungash-treewiththeflatofhishand。“Iwouldthathisearhadbeenwherethatrindis！”heexclaimed；“Ishouldhavetreatedhimtolittlecomparedwiwhathedeserves。”

“Now。”saidWinterborne，“don’tbeinahurrytogohome。I’veputsomeciderdowntowarminmyshelterhere，andwe’llsitanddrinkitandtalkthisover。”

MelburyturnedunresistinglyasGilestookhisarm，andtheywentbacktowherethefirewas，andsatdownunderthescreen，theotherwoodmenhavinggone。Hedrewoutthecider-mugfromtheashesandtheydranktogether。

“Giles，yououghttohavehadher，asIsaidjustnow。”repeatedMelbury。“I’lltellyouwhyforthefirsttime。”

HethereupontoldWinterborne，aswithgreatrelief，thestoryofhowhewonawayGiles’sfather’schosenone——bynothingworsethanalover’scajoleries，itistrue，butbymeanswhich，exceptinlove，wouldcertainlyhavebeenpronouncedcruelandunfair。HeexplainedhowhehadalwaysintendedtomakereparationtoWinterbornethefatherbygivingGracetoWinterbornetheson，tillthedeviltemptedhiminthepersonofFitzpiers，andhebrokehisvirtuousvow。

“HowhighlyIthoughtofthatman，tobesure！Who’dhavesupposedhe’dhavebeensoweakandwrong-headedasthis！Yououghttohavehadher，Giles，andthere’sanendon’t。”

WinterborneknewhowtopreservehiscalmunderthisunconsciouslycrueltearingofahealingwoundtowhichMelbury’sconcentrationonthemorevitalsubjecthadblindedhim。TheyoungmanendeavoredtomakethebestofthecaseforGrace’ssake。

“Shewouldhardlyhavebeenhappywithme。”hesaid，inthedry，unimpassionedvoiceunderwhichhehidhisfeelings。“Iwasnotwellenougheducated：toorough，inshort。Icouldn’thavesurroundedherwiththerefinementsshelookedfor，anyhow，atall。”

“Nonsense——youarequitewrongthere。”saidtheunwiseoldman，doggedly。“Shetoldmeonlythisdaythatshehatesrefinementsandsuchlike。Allthatmytroubleandmoneyboughtforherinthatwayisthrownawayuponherquite。She’dfainbelikeMartySouth——thinko’that！That’sthetopofherambition！Perhapsshe’sright。Giles，shelovedyou——undertherind；and，what’smore，shelovesyestill——worseluckforthepoormaid！”

IfMelburyonlyhadknownwhatfireshewasrecklesslystirringuphemighthaveheldhispeace。Winterbornewassilentalongtime。

Thedarknesshadclosedinroundthem，andthemonotonousdripofthefogfromthebranchesquickenedasitturnedtofinerain。

“Oh，shenevercaredmuchforme。”Gilesmanagedtosay，ashestirredtheemberswithabrand。

“Shedid，anddoes，Itellye。”saidtheother，obstinately。

“However，allthat’svaintalkingnow。WhatIcometoaskyouaboutisamorepracticalmatter——howtomakethebestofthingsastheyare。Iamthinkingofadesperatestep——ofcallingonthewomanCharmond。Iamgoingtoappealtoher，sinceGracewillnot。’Tisshewhoholdsthebalanceinherhands——nothe。Whileshe’sgotthewilltoleadhimastrayhewillfollow——poor，unpractical，lofty-notioneddreamer——andhowlongshe’lldoitdependsuponherwhim。DidyeeverhearanythingabouthercharacterbeforeshecametoHintock？”

“She’sbeenabitofacharmerinhertime，Ibelieve。”repliedGiles，withthesamelevelquietude，asheregardedtheredcoals。

“Onewhohassmiledwhereshehasnotlovedandlovedwhereshehasnotmarried。BeforeMr。Charmondmadeherhiswifeshewasaplay-actress。”

“Hey？”Buthowcloseyouhavekeptallthis，Giles！Whatbesides？”

“Mr。Charm