The Woodlanders

"And you'd better write also to the gentleman," suggested Beaucock,

who, scenting notoriety and the germ of a large practice in the case,

wished to commit Melbury to it irretrievably; to effect which he knew

that nothing would be so potent as awakening the passion of Grace for

Winterborne, so that her father might not have the heart to withdraw

from his attempt to make her love legitimate when he discovered that

there were difficulties in the way.

The nervous, impatient Melbury was much pleased with the idea of

"starting them at once," as he called it. To put his long-delayed

reparative scheme in train had become a passion with him now. He added

to the letter addressed to his daughter a passage hinting that she

ought to begin to encourage Winterborne, lest she should lose him

altogether; and he wrote to Giles that the path was virtually open for

him at last. Life was short, he declared; there were slips betwixt the

cup and the lip; her interest in him should be reawakened at once, that

all might be ready when the good time came for uniting them.