est to leave, the two card-players still pursuing their game
doggedly in the corner, where they had completely covered Giles's
mahogany table with chalk scratches. The three walked home, the
distance being short and the night clear.

"Well, Giles is a very good fellow," said Mr. Melbury, as they struck
down the lane under boughs which formed a black filigree in which the
stars seemed set.

"Certainly he is," said Grace, quickly, and in such a tone as to show
that he stood no lower, if no higher, in her regard than he had stood
before.

When they were opposite an opening through which, by day, the doctor's
house could be seen, they observed a light in one of his rooms,
although it was now about two o'clock.

"The doctor is not abed yet," said Mrs. Melbury.

"Hard study, no doubt," said her husband.

"One would think that, as he seems to have nothing to do about here by
day, he could at least afford to go to bed early at night. 'Tis
astonishing how little we see of him."

Melbury's mind seemed to turn with much relief to the contemplation of
Mr. Fitzpiers after the scenes of the evening. "It is natural enough,"
he replied. "What can a man of that sort find to interest him in
Hintock? I don't expect he'll stay here long."

His mind reverted to Giles's party, and when they were nearly home he
spoke again, his daughter being a few steps in advance: "It is hardly
the line of life for a girl like Grace, after what she's been
accustomed to. I didn't foresee that in sending her to boarding-school
and letting her travel, and what not, to make her a good bargain for
Giles, I should be really spoiling her for him. Ah, 'tis a thousand
pities! But he ought to have her--he ought!"

At this moment the two exclusive, chalk-mark men, having at last really
finished their play, could be heard coming along in the rear,
vociferously singing a song to march-time, and keeping vigorous step to
the same in far-reaching strides--

"She may go, oh!
She may go, oh!
She may go to the d---- for me!"

The timber-merchant turned indignantly to Mrs. Melbury. "That's the
sort of society we've been asked to meet," he said. "For us old folk
it didn't matter; but for Grace--Giles should have known better!"

Meanwhile, in the empty house from which the guests had just cleared
out, the subject of their discourse was walking from room to room
surveying the general displacement of furniture with no ecstatic
feeling; r