Atthetimber-merchant’s，inthemeantime，theconversationflowed；and，asGilesWinterbornehadrightlyenoughdeemed，onsubjectsinwhichhehadnoshare。Amongtheexcludingmatterstherewas，forone，theeffectuponMr。Melburyofthewomanlymienandmannersofhisdaughter，whichtookhimsomuchunawaresthat，thoughitdidnotmakehimabsolutelyforgettheexistenceofherconductorhomeward，thrustGiles’simagebackintoquitetheobscurestcellarageofhisbrain。AnotherwashisinterviewwithMrs。Charmond’sagentthatmorning，atwhichtheladyherselfhadbeenpresentforafewminutes。Melburyhadpurchasedsomestandingtimberfromheralongtimebefore，andnowthatthedatehadcomeforfellingithewaslefttopursuealmosthisowncourse。ThiswaswhatthehouseholdwereactuallytalkingofduringGiles’scogitationwithout；andMelbury’ssatisfactionwiththeclearatmospherethathadarisenbetweenhimselfandthedeityofthegroveswhichenclosedhisresidencewasthecauseofacounterbalancingmistinessonthesidetowardsWinterborne。

　　“Sothoroughlydoesshetrustme。”saidMelbury，“thatImightfell，top，orlop，onmyownjudgment，anysticko’timberwhateverinherwood，andfixthepriceo’t，andsettlethematter。But，nameitall！Iwouldn’tdosuchathing。However，itmaybeusefultohavethisgoodunderstandingwithher。I

　　wishshetookmoreinterestintheplace，andstayedherealltheyearround。”

　　“Iamafraid’tisnotherregardforyou，butherdislikeofHintock，thatmakeshersoeasyaboutthetrees。”saidMrs。

　　Melbury。

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