The Woodlanders

She was so sweet and sensitive that she feared his silence betokened

something in his brain of the nature of an enemy to her. "What are you

thinking of that makes those lines come in your forehead?" she asked.

"I did not mean to offend you by speaking of the time being premature

as yet."

Touched by the genuine loving-kindness which had lain at the foundation

of these words, and much moved, Winterborne turned his face aside, as

he took her by the hand. He was grieved that he had criticised her.

"You are very good, dear Grace," he said, in a low voice. "You are

better, much better, than you used to be."

"How?"

He could not very well tell her how, and said, with an evasive smile,

"You are prettier;" which was not what he really had meant. He then

remained still holding her right hand in his own right, so that they

faced in opposite ways; and as he did not let go, she ventured upon a

tender remonstrance.

"I think we have gone as far as we ought to go at present--and far

enough to satisfy my poor father that we are the same as ever. You see,

Giles, my case is not settled yet, and if--Oh, suppose I NEVER get

free!--there should be any hitch or informality!"

She drew a catching breath, and turned pale. The dialogue had been

affectionate comedy up to this point. The gloomy atmosphere of the

past, and the still gloomy horizon of the present, had been for the

interval forgotten. Now the whole environment came back, the due

balance of shade among the light was restored.

"It is sure to be all right, I trust?" she resumed, in uneasy accents.

"What did my father say the solicitor had told him?"

"Oh--that all is sure enough. The case is so clear--nothing could be

clearer. But the legal part is not yet quite done and finished, as is

natural."

"Oh no--of course not," she said, sunk in meek thought. "But father

said it was ALMOST--did he not? Do you know anything about the new law

that makes these things so easy?"

"Nothing--except the general fact that it enables ill-assorted husbands

and wives to part in a way they could not formerly do without an Act of

Parliament."

"Have you to sign a paper, or swear anything? Is it something like

that?"

"Yes, I believe so."

"How long has it been introduced?"