ThatFitzpierscouldallowhimselftolookonanyothercreatureforamomentthanGracefilledMelburywithgriefandastonishment。Inthepureandsimplelifehehadledithadscarcelyoccurredtohimthataftermarriageamanmightbefaithless。ThathecouldsweeptotheheightsofMrs。Charmond’sposition，lifttheveilofIsis，sotospeak，wouldhaveamazedMelburybyitsaudacityifhehadnotsuspectedencouragementfromthatquarter。WhatcouldheandhissimpleGracedotocountervailthepassionsofsuchasthosetwosophisticatedbeings——versedintheworld’sways，armedwitheveryapparatusforvictory？Insuchanencounterthehomelytimber-dealerfeltasinferiorasabow-and-arrowsavagebeforethepreciseweaponsofmodernwarfare。
Gracecameoutofthehouseasthemorningdrewon。Thevillagewassilent，mostofthefolkhavinggonetothefair。Fitzpiershadretiredtobed，andwassleepingoffhisfatigue。ShewenttothestableandlookedatpoorDarling：inallprobabilityGilesWinterborne，byobtainingforherahorseofsuchintelligenceanddocility，hadbeenthemeansofsavingherhusband’slife。Shepausedoverthestrangethought；andthenthereappearedherfatherbehindher。Shesawthatheknewthingswerenotastheyoughttobe，fromthetroubleddulnessofhiseye，andfromhisface，differentpointsofwhichhadindependentmotions，twitchings，andtremblings，unknowntohimself，andinvoluntary。
“Hewasdetained，Isuppose，lastnight？”saidMelbury。
“Ohyes；abadcaseinthevale。”shereplied，calmly。
“Nevertheless，heshouldhavestayedathome。”