about the mouth was all the response that Winterborne
made; and Melbury added, "My boy, you shall have her yet--if you want
her." His feelings had gathered volume as he said this, and the
articulate sound of the old idea drowned his sight in mist.

"Are you sure--about this new law?" asked Winterborne, so disquieted by
a gigantic exultation which loomed alternately with fearful doubt that
he evaded the full acceptance of Melbury's last statement.

Melbury said that he had no manner of doubt, for since his talk with
Beaucock it had come into his mind that he had seen some time ago in
the weekly paper an allusion to such a legal change; but, having no
interest in those desperate remedies at the moment, he had passed it
over. "But I'm not going to let the matter rest doubtful for a single
day," he continued. "I am going to London. Beaucock will go with me,
and we shall get the best advice as soon as we possibly can. Beaucock
is a thorough lawyer--nothing the matter with him but a fiery palate.
I knew him as the stay and refuge of Sherton in knots of law at one
time."

Winterborne's replies were of the vaguest. The new possibility was
almost unthinkable by him at the moment. He was what was called at
Hintock "a solid-going fellow;" he maintained his abeyant mood, not
from want of reciprocity, but from a taciturn hesitancy, taught by life
as he knew it.

"But," continued the timber-merchant, a temporary crease or two of
anxiety supplementing those already established in his forehead by time
and care, "Grace is not at all well. Nothing constitutional, you know;
but she has been in a low, nervous state ever since that night of
fright. I don't doubt but that she will be all right soon....I wonder
how she is this evening?" He rose with the words, as if he had too long
forgotten her personality in the excitement of her previsioned career.

They had sat till the evening was beginning to dye the garden brown,
and now went towards Melbury's house, Giles a few steps in the rear of
his old friend, who was stimulated by the enthusiasm of the moment to
outstep the ordinary walking of Winterborne. He felt shy of entering
Grace's presence as her reconstituted lover--which was how her
father's manner would be sure to present him--before definite
information as to her future state was forthcoming; it seemed too
nearly like the act of those who rush in where angels fear to tread.

A chill to counterbalance all the glowing prom