o this, that
Grace, deeming herself free to do it, was virtually asking him to
demonstrate that he loved her--since he could demonstrate it only too
truly--since life was short and love was strong--he gave way to the
temptation, notwithstanding that he perfectly well knew her to be
wedded irrevocably to Fitzpiers. Indeed, he cared for nothing past or
future, simply accepting the present and what it brought, desiring once
in his life to clasp in his arms her he had watched over and loved so
long.

She started back suddenly from his embrace, influenced by a sort of
inspiration. "Oh, I suppose," she stammered, "that I am really
free?--that this is right? Is there REALLY a new law? Father cannot
have been too sanguine in saying--"

He did not answer, and a moment afterwards Grace burst into tears in
spite of herself. "Oh, why does not my father come home and explain,"
she sobbed, "and let me know clearly what I am? It is too trying, this,
to ask me to--and then to leave me so long in so vague a state that I
do not know what to do, and perhaps do wrong!"

Winterborne felt like a very Cain, over and above his previous sorrow.
How he had sinned against her in not telling her what he knew. He
turned aside; the feeling of his cruelty mounted higher and higher.
How could he have dreamed of kissing her? He could hardly refrain from
tears. Surely nothing more pitiable had ever been known than the
condition of this poor young thing, now as heretofore the victim of her
father's well-meant but blundering policy.

Even in the hour of Melbury's greatest assurance Winterborne had
harbored a suspicion that no law, new or old, could undo Grace's
marriage without her appearance in public; though he was not
sufficiently sure of what might have been enacted to destroy by his own
words her pleasing idea that a mere dash of the pen, on her father's
testimony, was going to be sufficient. But he had never suspected the
sad fact that the position was irremediable.

Poor Grace, perhaps feeling that she had indulged in too much fluster
for a mere kiss, calmed herself at finding how grave he was. "I am
glad we are friends again anyhow," she said, smiling through her tears.
"Giles, if you had only shown half the boldness before I married that
you show now, you would have carried me off for your own first instead
of second. If we do marry, I hope you will never think badly of me for
encouraging you a little, but my father is SO impatient,