Menweresostrange。Thethoughttookawayfromherallherformerreticence，andmadeheractionbold。Shestartedfromherseat。Ifthelittlebreach，quarrel，orwhateveritmightbecalled，ofyesterday，wastobehealedupitmustbedonebyherontheinstant。Shecrossedintotheorchard，andclamberedthroughthegapafterGiles，justashewasdiminishingtoafaun-
likefigureunderthegreencanopyandoverthebrownfloor。
Gracehadbeenwrong——veryfarwrong——inassumingthattheletterhadnoreferencetoherselfbecauseGileshadturnedawayintothewoodafteritsperusal。Itwas，sadtosay，becausethemissivehadsomuchreferencetoherselfthathehadthusturnedaway。Hefearedthathisgrieveddiscomfituremightbeobserved。TheletterwasfromBeaucock，writtenafewhourslaterthanMelbury’stohisdaughter。Itannouncedfailure。
Gileshadoncedonethatthriftlessmanagoodturn，andnowwasthemomentwhenBeaucockhadchosentorememberitinhisownway。
DuringhisabsenceintownwithMelbury，thelawyer’sclerkhadnaturallyheardagreatdealofthetimber-merchant’sfamilyschemeofjusticetoGiles，andhiscommunicationwastoinformWinterborneattheearliestpossiblemomentthattheirattempthadfailed，inorderthattheyoungmanshouldnotplacehimselfinafalsepositiontowardsGraceinthebeliefofitscomingsuccess。