ItwasatthebeginningofApril，afewdaysafterthemeetingbetweenGraceandMrs。Charmondinthewood，thatFitzpiers，justreturnedfromLondon，wastravellingfromSherton-AbbastoHintockinahiredcarriage。Inhiseyetherewasadoubtfullight，andthelinesofhisrefinedfaceshowedavaguedisquietude。Heappearednowlikeoneofthosewhoimpressthebeholderashavingsufferedwronginbeingborn。
Hispositionwasintruthgloomy，andtohisappreciativeminditseemedevengloomierthanitwas。Hispracticehadbeenslowlydwindlingoflate，andnowthreatenedtodieoutaltogether，theirrepressibleoldDr。JonescapturingpatientsuptoFitzpiers’sverydoor。Fitzpiersknewonlytoowellthelatestandgreatestcauseofhisunpopularity；andyet，soillogicalisman，thesecondbranchofhissadnessgrewoutofaremedialmeasureproposedforthefirst——aletterfromFeliceCharmondimploringhimnottoseeheragain。Tobringabouttheirseverancestillmoreeffectually，sheadded，shehaddecidedduringhisabsenceuponalmostimmediatedeparturefortheContinent。
Thetimewasthatdullintervalinawoodlander’slifewhichcoincideswithgreatactivityinthelifeofthewoodlanditself——
aperiodfollowingthecloseofthewintertree-cutting，andprecedingthebarkingseason，whenthesapsarejustbeginningtoheavewiththeforceofhydraulicliftsinsideallthetrunksoftheforest。
Winterborne’scontractwascompleted，andtheplantationsweredeserted。Itwasdusk；therewerenoleavesasyet；thenightingaleswouldnotbegintosingforafortnight；and“theMotheroftheMonths“wasinhermostattenuatedphase——starvedandbenttoamerebowedskeleton，whichglidedalongbehindthebaretwigsinFitzpiers’scompanyWhenhereachedhomehewentstraightuptohiswife’ssitting-
room。Hefounditdeserted，andwithoutafire。Hehadmentionednodayforhisreturn；nevertheless，hewonderedwhyshewasnottherewaitingtoreceivehim。OndescendingtotheotherwingofthehouseandinquiringofMrs。Melbury，helearnedwithmuchsurprisethatGracehadgoneonavisittoanacquaintanceatShottsford-Forumthreedaysearlier；thattidingshadonthismorningreachedherfatherofherbeingveryunwellthere，inconsequenceofwhichhehadriddenovertoseeher。
Fitzpierswentup-stairsagain，andthelittledrawing-room，nowlightedbyasolitarycandle，wasnotrenderedmorecheerfulbytheentranceofGrammerOliverwithanapronfulofwood，whichshethrewonthehearthwhilesherakedoutthegrateandrattledaboutthefire-irons，withaviewtomakingthingscomfortable。
FitzpiersconsideredthatGraceoughttohavelethimknowherplansmoreaccuratelybeforeleavinghomeinafreaklikethis。
Hewentdesultorilytothewindow，theblindofwhichhadnotbeenpulleddown，andlookedoutatthethin，fast-sinkingmoon，andatthetallstalkofsmokerisingfromthetopofSukeDamson’schimney，signifyingthattheyoungwomanhadjustlitherfiretopreparesupper。
Hebecameconsciousofadiscussioninprogressontheoppositesideofthecourt。Somebodyhadlookedoverthewalltotalktothesawyers，andwastellingtheminaloudvoicenewsinwhichthenameofMrs。Charmondsoonarrestedhisears。
“Grammer，don’tmakesomuchnoisewiththatgrate。”saidthesurgeon；atwhichGrammerrearedherselfuponherkneesandheldthefuelsuspendedinherhand，whileFitzpiershalfopenedthecasement。
“Sheisofftoforeignlandsagainatlast——hevmadeuphermindquitesudden-like——anditisthoughtedshe’llleaveinadayortwo。She’sbeenallasifhermindwerelowforsomedayspast——
withasortofsorrowinherface，asifshereproachedherownsoul。She’sthewrongsortofwomanforHintock——hardlyknowingabeechfromawoak——thatIown。ButIdon’tcarewhothemanis，she’sbeenaverykindfriendtome。
“Well，thedayafterto-morrowistheSabbathday，andwithoutcharitywearebuttinklingsimples；butthisIdosay，thathergoingwillbeablessedthingforacertainmarriedcouplewhoremain。”
Thefirewaslighted，andFitzpierssatdowninfrontofit，restlessasthelastleafuponatree。“Asortofsorrowinherface，asifshereproachedherownsoul。”PoorFelice。HowFelice’sframemustbepulsingundertheconditionsofwhichhehadjustheardthecaricature；howherfairtemplesmustache；
whatamoodofwretchednessshemustbein！Butforthemixingupofhisnamewithhers，andherdeterminationtosundertheirtoocloseacquaintanceonthataccount，shewouldprobablyhavesentforhimprofessionally。Shewasnowsittingalone，suffering，perhapswishingthatshehadnotforbiddenhimtocomeagain。
Unabletoremaininthislonelyroomanylonger，ortowaitforthemealwhichwasincourseofpreparation，hemadehimselfreadyforriding，descendedtotheyard，stoodbythestable-doorwhileDarlingwasbeingsaddled，androdeoffdownthelane。Hewouldhavepreferredwalking，butwaswearywithhisday’stravel。
AsheapproachedthedoorofMartySouth’scottage，whichitwasnecessarytopassonhisway，shecamefromtheporchasifshehadbeenawaitinghim，andmethiminthemiddleoftheroad，holdingupaletter。Fitzpierstookitwithoutstopping，andaskedoverhisshoulderfromwhomitcame。
Martyhesitated。“Fromme。”shesaid，shyly，thoughwithnoticeablefirmness。
Thislettercontained，infact，Marty’sdeclarationthatshewastheoriginalownerofMrs。Charmond’ssupplementarylocks，andenclosedasamplefromthenativestock，whichhadgrownconsiderablybythistime。Itwasherlongcontemplatedappleofdiscord，andmuchherhandtrembledasshehandedthedocumentuptohim。
ButitwasimpossibleonaccountofthegloomforFitzpierstoreaditthen，whilehehadthecuriositytodoso，andheputitinhispocket。HisimaginationhavingalreadycentreditselfonHintockHouse，inhispockettheletterremainedunopenedandforgotten，allthewhilethatMartywashopefullypicturingitsexcellentweaningeffectuponhim。
HewasnotlonginreachingtheprecinctsoftheManorHouse。Hedrewreinunderagroupofdarkoakscommandingaviewofthefront，andreflectedawhile。Hisentrywouldnotbealtogetherunnaturalinthecircumstancesofherpossibleindisposition；butuponthewholehethoughtitbesttoavoidridinguptothedoor。
Bysilentlyapproachinghecouldretreatunobservedintheeventofhernotbeingalone。Thereuponhedismounted，hitchedDarlingtoastrayboughhangingalittlebelowthegeneralbrowsinglineofthetrees，andproceededtothedooronfoot。
InthemeantimeMelburyhadreturnedfromShottsford-Forum。Thegreatcourtorquadrangleofthetimber-merchant’shouse，dividedfromtheshadylanebyanivy-coveredwall，wasenteredbytwowhitegates，onestandingneareachextremityofthewall。ItsohappenedthatatthemomentwhenFitzpierswasridingoutatthelowergateonhiswaytotheManorHouse，Melburywasapproachingtheuppergatetoenterit。FitzpiersbeinginfrontofMelburywasseenbythelatter，butthesurgeon，neverturninghishead，didnotobservehisfather-in-law，amblingslowlyandsilentlyalongunderthetrees，thoughhishorsetoowasagrayone。
“HowisGrace？”saidhiswife，assoonasheentered。
Melburylookedgloomy。“Sheisnotatallwell。”hesaid。“I
don’tlikethelooksofheratall。Icouldn’tbearthenotionofherbidingawayinastrangeplaceanylonger，andIbeggedhertoletmegetherhome。Atlastsheagreedtoit，butnottillaftermuchpersuading。IwasthensorrythatIrodeoverinsteadofdriving；butIhavehiredanicecomfortablecarriage——theeasiest-goingIcouldget——andshe’llbehereinacoupleofhoursorless。Irodeonaheadtotellyoutogetherroomready；butI
seeherhusbandhascomeback。”
“Yes。”saidMrs。Melbury。SheexpressedherconcernthatherhusbandhadhiredacarriageallthewayfromShottsford。“Whatitwillcost！”shesaid。
“Idon’tcarewhatitcosts！”heexclaimed，testily。“Iwasdeterminedtogetherhome。WhyshewentawayIcan’tthink！SheactsinawaythatisnotatalllikelytomendmattersasfarasIcansee。”GracehadnottoldherfatherofherinterviewwithMrs。Charmond，andthedisclosurethathadbeenwhisperedinherstartledear。“SinceEdgariscome。”hecontinued，“hemighthavewaitedintillIgothome，toaskmehowshewas，ifonlyforacompliment。Isawhimgoout；whereishegone？”
Mrs。Melburydidnotknowpositively；butshetoldherhusbandthattherewasnotmuchdoubtabouttheplaceofhisfirstvisitafteranabsence。Shehad，infact，seenFitzpierstakethedirectionoftheManorHouse。
Melburysaidnomore。Itwasexasperatingtohimthatjustatthismoment，whentherewaseveryreasonforFitzpierstostayindoors，oratanyratetoridealongtheShottsfordroadtomeethisailingwife，heshouldbedoingdespitetoherbygoingelsewhere。Theoldmanwentout-of-doorsagain；andhishorsebeinghardlyunsaddledasyet，hetoldUpjohntoretightenthegirths，whenheagainmounted，androdeoffattheheelsofthesurgeon。
BythetimethatMelburyreachedthepark，hewaspreparedtogoanylengthsincombatingthisrankandrecklesserrantryofhisdaughter’shusband。HewouldfetchhomeEdgarFitzpiersto-nightbysomemeans，roughorfair：inhisviewtherecouldcomeofhisinterferencenothingworsethanwhatexistedatpresent。Andyettoeverybadthereisaworse。
Hehadenteredbythebridle-gatewhichadmittedtotheparkonthisside，andcanteredoverthesoftturfalmostinthetracksofFitzpiers’shorse，tillhereachedtheclumpoftreesunderwhichhisprecursorhadhalted。ThewhitishobjectthatwasindistinctlyvisiblehereinthegloomoftheboughshefoundtobeDarling，asleftbyFitzpiers。
“D——nhim！whydidhenotrideuptothehouseinanhonestway？”
saidMelbury。
HeprofitedbyFitzpiers’sexample；dismounting，hetiedhishorseunderanadjoiningtree，andwentontothehouseonfoot，astheotherhaddone。Hewasnolongerdisposedtostickattriflesinhisinvestigation，anddidnothesitatetogentlyopenthefrontdoorwithoutringing。
Thelargesquarehall，withitsoakfloor，staircase，andwainscot，waslightedbyadimlamphangingfromabeam。Notasoulwasvisible。Hewentintothecorridorandlistenedatadoorwhichheknewtobethatofthedrawing-room；therewasnosound，andonturningthehandlehefoundtheroomempty。Afireburninglowinthegratewasthesolelightoftheapartment；itsbeamsflashedmockinglyonthesomewhatshowyVersaillesefurnitureandgildinghere，instyleasunlikethatofthestructuralpartsofthebuildingasitwaspossibletobe，andprobablyintroducedbyFelicetocounteractthefineold-Englishgloomoftheplace。Disappointedinhishopeofconfrontinghisson-in-lawhere，hewentontothedining-room；thiswaswithoutlightorfire，andpervadedbyacoldatmosphere，whichsignifiedthatshehadnotdinedtherethatday。
BythistimeMelbury’smoodhadalittlemollified。Everythingherewassopacific，sounaggressiveinitsrepose，thathewasnolongerincitedtoprovokeacollisionwithFitzpiersorwithanybody。Thecomparativestatelinessoftheapartmentsinfluencedhimtoanemotion，ratherthantoabelief，thatwhereallwasoutwardlysogoodandpropertherecouldnotbequitethatdelinquencywithinwhichhehadsuspected。Itoccurredtohim，too，thatevenifhissuspicionwerejustified，hisabrupt，ifnotunwarrantable，entryintothehousemightendinconfoundingitsinhabitantattheexpenseofhisdaughter’sdignityandhisown。
AnyillresultwouldbeprettysuretohitGracehardestinthelong-run。Hewould，afterall，adoptthemorerationalcourse，andpleadwithFitzpiersprivately，ashehadpleadedwithMrs。
Charmond。
Heaccordinglyretreatedassilentlyashehadcome。Passingthedoorofthedrawing-roomanew，hefanciedthatheheardanoisewithinwhichwasnotthecracklingofthefire。Melburygentlyreopenedthedoortoadistanceofafewinches，andsawattheoppositewindowtwofiguresintheactofsteppingout——amanandawoman——inwhomherecognizedtheladyofthehouseandhisson-
in-law。Inamomenttheyhaddisappearedamidthegloomofthelawn。
Hereturnedintothehall，andlethimselfoutbythecarriage-
entrancedoor，comingroundtothelawnfrontintimetoseethetwofigurespartingattherailingwhichdividedtheprecinctsofthehousefromtheopenpark。Mrs。CharmondturnedtohastenbackimmediatelythatFitzpiershadleftherside，andhewasspeedilyabsorbedintotheduskinessofthetrees。
MelburywaitedtillMrs。Charmondhadre-enteredthedrawing-room，andthenfollowedafterFitzpiers，thinkingthathewouldallowthelattertomountandrideaheadalittlewaybeforeovertakinghimandgivinghimapieceofhismind。Hisson-in-lawmightpossiblyseethesecondhorsenearhisown；butthatwoulddohimnoharm，andmightpreparehimforwhathewastoexpect。
Theevent，however，wasdifferentfromtheplan。Onplungingintothethickshadeoftheclumpofoaks，hecouldnotperceivehishorseBlossomanywhere；butfeelinghiswaycarefullyalong，heby-and-bydiscernedFitzpiers’smareDarlingstillstandingasbeforeundertheadjoiningtree。ForamomentMelburythoughtthathisownhorse，beingyoungandstrong，hadbrokenawayfromherfastening；butonlisteningintentlyhecouldhearheramblingcomfortablyalongalittlewayahead，andacreakingofthesaddlewhichshowedthatshehadarider。Walkingonasfarasthesmallgateinthecornerofthepark，hemetalaborer，who，inreplytoMelbury’sinquiryifhehadseenanypersononagrayhorse，saidthathehadonlymetDr。Fitzpiers。