gularly,
he brought nothing for Giles. On the twelfth day the man of missives,
while yet in the extreme distance, held up his hand, and Winterborne
saw a letter in it. He took it into the spar-house before he broke the
seal, and those who were there gathered round him while he read, Grace
looking in at the door.

The letter was not from Mrs. Charmond herself, but her agent at
Sherton. Winterborne glanced it over and looked up.

"It's all over," he said.

"Ah!" said they altogether.

"Her lawyer is instructed to say that Mrs. Charmond sees no reason for
disturbing the natural course of things, particularly as she
contemplates pulling the houses down," he said, quietly.

"Only think of that!" said several.

Winterborne had turned away, and said vehemently to himself, "Then let
her pull 'em down, and be d--d to her!"

Creedle looked at him with a face of seven sorrows, saying, "Ah, 'twas
that sperrit that lost 'em for ye, maister!"

Winterborne subdued his feelings, and from that hour, whatever they
were, kept them entirely to himself. There could be no doubt that, up
to this last moment, he had nourished a feeble hope of regaining Grace
in the event of this negotiation turning out a success. Not being
aware of the fact that her father could have settled upon her a fortune
sufficient to enable both to live in comfort, he deemed it now an
absurdity to dream any longer of such a vanity as making her his wife,
and sank into silence forthwith.

Yet whatever the value of taciturnity to a man among strangers, it is
apt to express more than talkativeness when he dwells among friends.
The countryman who is obliged to judge the time of day from changes in
external nature sees a thousand successive tints and traits in the
landscape which are never discerned by him who hears the regular chime
of a clock, because they are never in request. In like manner do we
use our eyes on our taciturn comrade. The infinitesimal movement of
muscle, curve, hair, and wrinkle, which when accompanied by a voice
goes unregarded, is watched and translated in the lack of it, till
virtually the whole surrounding circle of familiars is charged with the
reserved one's moods and meanings.

This was the condition of affairs between Winterborne and his neighbors
after his stroke of ill-luck. He held his tongue; and they observed
him, and knew that he was discomposed.

Mr. Melbury, in his compunction, thought more of the matter than any
on