The Woodlanders

At nine o'clock the next morning Melbury dressed himself up in shining

broadcloth, creased with folding and smelling of camphor, and started

for Hintock House. He was the more impelled to go at once by the

absence of his son-in-law in London for a few days, to attend, really

or ostensibly, some professional meetings. He said nothing of his

destination either to his wife or to Grace, fearing that they might

entreat him to abandon so risky a project, and went out unobserved. He

had chosen his time with a view, as he supposed, of conveniently

catching Mrs. Charmond when she had just finished her breakfast, before

any other business people should be about, if any came. Plodding

thoughtfully onward, he crossed a glade lying between Little Hintock

Woods and the plantation which abutted on the park; and the spot being

open, he was discerned there by Winterborne from the copse on the next

hill, where he and his men were working. Knowing his mission, the

younger man hastened down from the copse and managed to intercept the

timber-merchant.

"I have been thinking of this, sir," he said, "and I am of opinion that

it would be best to put off your visit for the present."

But Melbury would not even stop to hear him. His mind was made up, the

appeal was to be made; and Winterborne stood and watched him sadly till

he entered the second plantation and disappeared.

Melbury rang at the tradesmen's door of the manor-house, and was at

once informed that the lady was not yet visible, as indeed he might

have guessed had he been anybody but the man he was. Melbury said he

would wait, whereupon the young man informed him in a neighborly way

that, between themselves, she was in bed and asleep.

"Never mind," said Melbury, retreating into the court, "I'll stand

about here." Charged so fully with his mission, he shrank from contact

with anybody.

But he walked about the paved court till he was tired, and still nobody

came to him. At last he entered the house and sat down in a small

waiting-room, from which he got glimpses of the kitchen corridor, and

of the white-capped maids flitting jauntily hither and thither. They

had heard of his arrival, but had not seen him enter, and, imagining

him still in the court, discussed freely the possible reason of his

calling. They marvelled at his temerity; for though most of the

tongues which had been let loose attributed the chief blame-worthiness

to Fitzpiers, these of her household preferred to regard their mistress

as the deeper sinner.