For a moment they did not heed, and the voice repeated, more loudly and
hoarsely, "Take out that arm!"
It was Melbury's. He had returned sooner than they expected, and now
came up to them. Grace's hand had been withdrawn like lightning on her
hearing the second command. "I don't blame you--I don't blame you,"
he said, in the weary cadence of one broken down with scourgings. "But
you two must walk together no more--I have been surprised--I have been
cruelly deceived--Giles, don't say anything to me; but go away!"
He was evidently not aware that Winterborne had known the truth before
he brought it; and Giles would not stay to discuss it with him then.
When the young man had gone Melbury took his daughter in-doors to the
room he used as his office. There he sat down, and bent over the slope
of the bureau, her bewildered gaze fixed upon him.
When Melbury had recovered a little he said, "You are now, as ever,
Fitzpiers's wife. I was deluded. He has not done you ENOUGH harm.
You are still subject to his beck and call."
"Then let it be, and never mind, father," she said, with dignified
sorrow. "I can bear it. It is your trouble that grieves me most." She
stooped over him, and put her arm round his neck, which distressed
Melbury still more. "I don't mind at all what comes to me," Grace
continued; "whose wife I am, or whose I am not. I do love Giles; I
cannot help that; and I have gone further with him than I should have
done if I had known exactly how things were. But I do not reproach you."
"Then Giles did not tell you?" said Melbury.
"No," said she. "He could not have known it. His behavior to me
proved that he did not know."
Her father said nothing more, and Grace went away to the solitude of
her chamber.
Her heavy disquietude had many shapes; and for a time she put aside the
dominant fact to think of her too free conduct towards Giles. His
love-making had been brief as it was sweet; but would he on reflection
contemn her for forwardness? How could she have been so simple as to
suppose she was in a position to behave as she had done! Thus she
mentally blamed her ignorance; and yet in the centre of her heart she
blessed it a little for what it had momentarily brought her.