Melburyhimselfwasthefirsttorisethenextmorning，andwhenhehadreadtheletterhisreliefwasgreat。“VeryhonorableofGiles，veryhonorable。”hekeptsayingtohimself。“Ishallnotforgethim。Nowtokeepheruptoherowntruelevel。”
IthappenedthatGracewentoutforanearlyramblethatmorning，passingthroughthedoorandgatewhileherfatherwasinthespar-house。TogoinhercustomarydirectionshecouldnotavoidpassingWinterborne’shouse。Themorningsunwasshiningflatuponitswhitesurface，andthewords，whichstillremained，wereimmediatelyvisibletoher。Shereadthem。Herfaceflushedtocrimson。ShecouldseeGilesandCreedletalkingtogetherattheback；thecharredspar-gadwithwhichthelineshadbeenwrittenlayonthegroundbeneaththewall。FeelingprettysurethatWinterbornewouldobserveheraction，shequicklywentuptothewall，rubbedout“lose“andinserted“keep“initsstead。Thenshemadethebestofherwayhomewithoutlookingbehindher。
Gilescoulddrawaninferencenowifhechose。
TherecouldnotbetheleastdoubtthatgentleGracewaswarmingtomoresympathywith，andinterestin，GilesWinterbornethanevershehaddonewhilehewasherpromisedlover；thatsincehismisfortunethosesocialshortcomingsofhis，whichcontrastedsoawkwardlywithherlaterexperiencesoflife，hadbecomeobscuredbythegenerousrevivalofanoldromanticattachmenttohim。
Thoughmentallytrainedandtilledintoforeignnessofview，ascomparedwithheryouthfultime，Gracewasnotanambitiousgirl，andmight，iflefttoherself，havedeclinedWinterbornewithoutmuchdiscontentorunhappiness。Herfeelingsjustnowweresofarfromlatentthatthewritingonthewallhadthusquickenedhertoanunusualrashness。