He was sorry. The petulance that relatives show towards each other is
in truth directed against that intangible Causality which has shaped
the situation no less for the offenders than the offended, but is too
elusive to be discerned and cornered by poor humanity in irritated
mood. Melbury followed her. She had rambled on to the paddock, where
the white frost lay, and where starlings in flocks of twenties and
thirties were walking about, watched by a comfortable family of
sparrows perched in a line along the string-course of the chimney,
preening themselves in the rays of the sun.
"Come in to breakfast, my girl," he said. "And as to Giles, use your
own mind. Whatever pleases you will please me."
"I am promised to him, father; and I cannot help thinking that in honor
I ought to marry him, whenever I do marry."
He had a strong suspicion that somewhere in the bottom of her heart
there pulsed an old simple indigenous feeling favorable to Giles,
though it had become overlaid with implanted tastes. But he would not
distinctly express his views on the promise. "Very well," he said.
"But I hope I sha'n't lose you yet. Come in to breakfast. What did
you think of the inside of Hintock House the other day?"
"I liked it much."
"Different from friend Winterborne's?"
She said nothing; but he who knew her was aware that she meant by her
silence to reproach him with drawing cruel comparisons.
"Mrs. Charmond has asked you to come again--when, did you say?"
"She thought Tuesday, but would send the day before to let me know if
it suited her." And with this subject upon their lips they entered to
breakfast.
Tuesday came, but no message from Mrs. Charmond. Nor was there any on
Wednesday. In brief, a fortnight slipped by without a sign, and it
looked suspiciously as if Mrs. Charmond were not going further in the
direction of "taking up" Grace at present.
Her father reasoned thereon. Immediately after his daughter's two
indubitable successes with Mrs. Charmond--the interview in the wood and
a visit to the House--she had attended Winterborne's party. No doubt
the out-and-out joviality of that gathering had made it a topic in the
neighborhood, and that every one present as guests had been widely
spoken of--Grace, with her exceptional qualities, above all. What,
then, so natural as that Mrs. Charmond should have heard the village
news, and become quite disappointed in her expectations of Grace at
finding she kept such company?