The Woodlanders

The young man lit a cigar and followed the bevy of maidens slowly up

the road. They had turned into the wood at an opening between

Melbury's and Marty South's; but Fitzpiers could easily track them by

their voices, low as they endeavored to keep their tones.

In the mean time other inhabitants of Little Hintock had become aware

of the nocturnal experiment about to be tried, and were also sauntering

stealthily after the frisky maidens. Miss Melbury had been informed by

Marty South during the day of the proposed peep into futurity, and,

being only a girl like the rest, she was sufficiently interested to

wish to see the issue. The moon was so bright and the night so calm

that she had no difficulty in persuading Mrs. Melbury to accompany her;

and thus, joined by Marty, these went onward in the same direction.

Passing Winterborne's house, they heard a noise of hammering. Marty

explained it. This was the last night on which his paternal roof would

shelter him, the days of grace since it fell into hand having expired;

and Giles was taking down his cupboards and bedsteads with a view to an

early exit next morning. His encounter with Mrs. Charmond had cost him

dearly.

When they had proceeded a little farther Marty was joined by Grammer

Oliver (who was as young as the youngest in such matters), and Grace

and Mrs. Melbury went on by themselves till they had arrived at the

spot chosen by the village daughters, whose primary intention of

keeping their expedition a secret had been quite defeated. Grace and

her step-mother paused by a holly-tree; and at a little distance stood

Fitzpiers under the shade of a young oak, intently observing Grace, who

was in the full rays of the moon.

He watched her without speaking, and unperceived by any but Marty and

Grammer, who had drawn up on the dark side of the same holly which

sheltered Mrs. and Miss Melbury on its bright side. The two former

conversed in low tones.

"If they two come up in Wood next Midsummer Night they'll come as one,"

said Grammer, signifying Fitzpiers and Grace. "Instead of my

skellington he'll carry home her living carcass before long. But though

she's a lady in herself, and worthy of any such as he, it do seem to me

that he ought to marry somebody more of the sort of Mrs. Charmond, and

that Miss Grace should make the best of Winterborne."

Marty returned no comment; and at that minute the girls, some of whom

were from Great Hintock, were seen advancing to work the incantation,

it being now about midnight.