The Woodlanders

"Yes," said Fitzpiers.

"And you wish to become better acquainted with her? You mean with a

view to marriage--of course that is what you mean?"

"Yes," said the young man. "I mean, get acquainted with her, with a

view to being her accepted lover; and if we suited each other, what

would naturally follow."

The timber-merchant was much surprised, and fairly agitated; his hand

trembled as he laid by his walking-stick. "This takes me unawares,"

said he, his voice wellnigh breaking down. "I don't mean that there is

anything unexpected in a gentleman being attracted by her; but it did

not occur to me that it would be you. I always said," continued he,

with a lump in his throat, "that my Grace would make a mark at her own

level some day. That was why I educated her. I said to myself, 'I'll

do it, cost what it may;' though her mother-law was pretty frightened

at my paying out so much money year after year. I knew it would tell

in the end. 'Where you've not good material to work on, such doings

would be waste and vanity,' I said. 'But where you have that material

it is sure to be worth while.'"

"I am glad you don't object," said Fitzpiers, almost wishing that Grace

had not been quite so cheap for him.

"If she is willing I don't object, certainly. Indeed," added the

honest man, "it would be deceit if I were to pretend to feel anything

else than highly honored personally; and it is a great credit to her to

have drawn to her a man of such good professional station and venerable

old family. That huntsman-fellow little thought how wrong he was about

her! Take her and welcome, sir."

"I'll endeavor to ascertain her mind."

"Yes, yes. But she will be agreeable, I should think. She ought to

be."

"I hope she may. Well, now you'll expect to see me frequently."

"Oh yes. But, name it all--about her cough, and her going away. I had

quite forgot that that was what I came about."

"I assure you," said the surgeon, "that her cough can only be the

result of a slight cold, and it is not necessary to banish her to any

seaside place at all."

Melbury looked unconvinced, doubting whether he ought to take

Fitzpiers's professional opinion in circumstances which naturally led

him to wish to keep her there. The doctor saw this, and honestly

dreading to lose sight of her, he said, eagerly, "Between ourselves, if

I am successful with her I will take her away myself for a month or

two, as soon as we are married, which I hope will be before the chilly

weather comes on. This will be so very much better than letting her go

now."