Aweekhadpassed，andMrs。CharmondhadleftHintockHouse。
MiddletonAbbey，theplaceofhersojourn，wasabouttwentymilesdistantbyroad，eighteenbybridle-pathsandfootways。
Graceobserved，forthefirsttime，thatherhusbandwasrestless，thatatmomentsheevenwasdisposedtoavoidher。Thescrupulouscivilityofmereacquaintanceshipcreptintohismanner；yet，whensittingatmeals，heseemedhardlytohearherremarks。Herlittledoingsinterestedhimnolonger，whiletowardsherfatherhisbearingwasnotfarfromsupercilious。Itwasplainthathismindwasentirelyoutsideherlife，whereaboutsoutsideitshecouldnottell；insomeregionofscience，possibly，orofpsychologicalliterature。ButherhopethathewasagainimmersinghimselfinthoselucubrationswhichbeforehermarriagehadmadehislightalandmarkinHintock，wasfoundedsimplyontheslenderfactthatheoftensatuplate。
OneeveningshediscoveredhimleaningoveragateonRub-DownHill，thegateatwhichWinterbornehadoncebeenstanding，andwhichopenedonthebrinkofasteep，slantingdowndirectlyintoBlackmoorVale，ortheValeoftheWhiteHart，extendingbeneaththeeyeatthispointtoadistanceofmanymiles。Hisattentionwasfixedonthelandscapefaraway，andGrace’sapproachwassonoiselessthathedidnothearher。Whenshecamecloseshecouldseehislipsmovingunconsciously，astosomeimpassionedvisionarytheme。
Shespoke，andFitzpiersstarted。“Whatareyoulookingat？”sheasked。