Suchanticipatedglimpsesofhernowandthenrealizedthemselvesintheevent。Rencountersofnotmorethanaminute’sduration，frequentlyrepeated，willbuildupmutualinterest，evenanintimacy，inalonelyplace。Theirsgrewasimperceptiblyasthetree-twigsbudded。Thereneverwasaparticularmomentatwhichitcouldbesaidtheybecamefriends；yetadelicateunderstandingnowexistedbetweentwowhointhewinterhadbeenstrangers。
Springweathercameonrathersuddenly，theunsealingofbudsthathadlongbeenswollenaccomplishingitselfinthespaceofonewarmnight。Therushofsapintheveinsofthetreescouldalmostbeheard。TheflowersoflateApriltookupapositionunseen，andlookedasiftheyhadbeenbloomingalongwhile，thoughtherehadbeennotraceofthemthedaybeforeyesterday；
birdsbegannottomindgettingwet。In-doorpeoplesaidtheyhadheardthenightingale，towhichout-doorpeoplerepliedcontemptuouslythattheyhadheardhimafortnightbefore。
Theyoungdoctor’spracticebeingscarcelysolargeasaLondonsurgeon’s，hefrequentlywalkedinthewood。Indeedsuchpracticeashehadhedidnotfollowupwiththeassiduitythatwouldhavebeennecessaryfordevelopingittoexceptionalproportions。Oneday，bookinhand，hewalkedinapartofthewoodwherethetreesweremainlyoaks。Itwasacalmafternoon，andtherewaseverywherearoundthatsignofgreatundertakingsonthepartofvegetablenaturewhichisapttofillreflectivehumanbeingswhoarenotundertakingmuchthemselveswithasuddenuneasinessatthecontrast。Heheardinthedistanceacurioussound，somethinglikethequackofaduck，which，thoughitwascommonenoughhereaboutthistime，wasnotcommontohim。
LookingthroughthetreesFitzpierssoonperceivedtheoriginofthenoise。Thebarkingseasonhadjustcommenced，andwhathehadheardwasthetearoftherippingtoolasitplougheditswayalongthestickypartingbetweenthetrunkandtherind。Melburydidalargebusinessinbark，andashewasGrace’sfather，andpossiblymightbefoundonthespot，Fitzpierswasattractedtothesceneevenmorethanhemighthavebeenbyitsintrinsicinterest。WhenhegotnearerherecognizedamongtheworkmenthetwoTimothys，andRobertCreedle，whoprobablyhadbeen“lent“byWinterborne；MartySouthalsoassisted。