AssoonastheysatdowntotableMelburycamein，andseemedtoseeatoncethatFitzpierswouldmuchratherhavereceivednosuchdemonstrativereception。Hethereuponprivatelychidhiswifeforherforwardnessinthematter。Mrs。MelburydeclaredthatitwasasmuchGrace’sdoingashers，afterwhichtherewasnomoretobesaidbythatyoungwoman’stenderfather。BythistimeFitzpierswasmakingthebestofhispositionamongthewide-elbowedandgenialcompanywhosateatinganddrinkingandlaughingandjokingaroundhim；andgettingwarmedhimselfbythegoodcheer，wasobligedtoadmitthat，afterall，thesupperwasnottheleastenjoyablehehadeverknown。
Attimes，however，thewordsabouthishavingspoiledhisopportunities，repeatedtohimasthoseofMrs。Charmond，hauntedhimlikeahandwritingonthewall。Thenhismannerwouldbecomesuddenlyabstracted。AtonemomenthewouldmentallyputanindignantquerywhyMrs。Charmondoranyotherwomanshouldmakeitherbusinesstohaveopinionsabouthisopportunities；atanotherhethoughtthathecouldhardlybeangrywithherfortakinganinterestinthedoctorofherownparish。Thenhewoulddrinkaglassofgrogandsogetridofthemisgiving。ThesehitchesandquaffingsweresoonperceivedbyGraceaswellasbyherfather；andhencebothofthemweremuchrelievedwhenthefirstofthegueststodiscoverthatthehourwasgrowinglateroseanddeclaredthathemustthinkofmovinghomeward。AtthewordsMelburyroseasalertlyasifliftedbyaspring，andintenminutestheyweregone。
“Now，Grace。”saidherhusbandassoonashefoundhimselfalonewithherintheirprivateapartments，“we’vehadaverypleasantevening，andeverybodyhasbeenverykind。Butwemustcometoanunderstandingaboutourwayoflivinghere。Ifwecontinueintheseroomstheremustbenomixinginwithyourpeoplebelow。I
can’tstandit，andthat’sthetruth。”
Shehadbeensadlysurprisedatthesuddennessofhisdistasteforthoseold-fashionedwoodlandformsoflifewhichinhiscourtshiphehadprofessedtoregardwithsomuchinterest。Butsheassentedinamoment。